Tanzania has commissioned the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Coating plant in Sojo, Nzega – Tabora Region. This marks a significant milestone in the development of the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline.
The ceremony, attended by dignitaries including Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa, Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, and Dr. Doto Biteko, Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, signifies the progress of the EACOP project.
The coating plant, a state-of-the-art facility, will play a crucial role in insulating and coating pipe sections manufactured in China. This process is essential for ensuring the safe transport of crude oil from Uganda’s wells to the Tanzanian coast for export. The coated pipeline will feature thermal insulation with electrical filaments and fiber-optic cables to facilitate efficient oil flow and enhance leak detection capabilities.
READ:Burundi to receive US $2M boost for Ruvyironza Multipurpose Dam project
The EACOP
Dr. Nankabirwa praised the EACOP Company for achieving this milestone, emphasizing its significance in advancing the project towards completion since the Final Investment Decision (FID) was made in February 2022. She highlighted the environmental safeguards implemented in the project, including the use of aluminum raceways, insulation layers, Polyurethane foam (PUF), anti-diffusion barriers, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to protect the surroundings and prolong the pipeline’s lifespan.
In addition to the coating plant commissioning, agreements were signed between the EACOP Company and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) regarding land use and ports. Dr. Biteko emphasized the progress of compensating Project Affected Persons (PAPs) and the ongoing construction of Main Storage Terminals in Tanzania. He underscored the economic opportunities brought by the pipeline, particularly for the Tabora region.
The EACOP is a major infrastructure project aimed at transporting oil from Uganda to the Indian Ocean coast. It spans 1443 kilometers and is expected to be the world’s longest heated oil pipeline. The pipeline will connect TotalEnergies’ Tilenga oil complex in Uganda with the port of Tanga in Tanzania. EACOP Company’s shareholders include TotalEnergies BV (62%), CNOOC Uganda Limited (8%), TPDC (15%), and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) (15%).
