The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is not just an infrastructure project, it is a transformative force reshaping economic prospects in Uganda and Tanzania. 

Despite financial hurdles and activist opposition, the $5 billion project remains on course for completion by 2026, with significant progress already made.

According to Guillaume Dulout, Managing Director of Eacop Ltd., the project has reached 55 percent completion, with key components, including offshore facilities and high-tech export terminals, advancing steadily. 

“The project is at 55 percent. We hope in 2026 that the oil will flow from Uganda’s Albertine down to Tanga. That is our objective,” Dulout stated during the 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE) 2025.

Spanning 1,443 kilometers from Uganda’s Hoima District to Tanzania’s port of Tanga, EACOP is expected to make East Africa a strategic player in the global energy market. 

The pipeline, designed with thermal insulation to minimize its environmental footprint, will transport up to 230,000 barrels of crude oil per day at peak production.

However, financing challenges remain. Environmental activists have pressured banks and investors to withdraw support, citing climate concerns. Despite this, the project’s leadership remains confident, emphasizing its potential to generate economic opportunities, particularly in Tanzania, where 80 percent of the pipeline’s route lies.

Beyond oil transportation, EACOP is creating jobs and infrastructure in the region, with construction projects boosting local economies. The offshore terminal is already 70.4 percent complete, and the high-tech export terminal is set for completion by October 2025.

As construction advances, Uganda and Tanzania look to EACOP as a catalyst for economic transformation, positioning the region as a vital energy hub while navigating the complex balance between development and environmental sustainability.