The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is expected to release only 10 kilograms of carbon emissions in Uganda from the oil fields of Tilenga and King Fisher. That is the assurance from the Uganda National Oil Company, to allay fears that the pipeline, which will move through Uganda to Tanzania and finally end at the Port of Tanga in Tanzania, will cause damage to the environment through pollution.

Sarah Birungi Banage, the Head of Corporate Affairs at the National Oil Company, told C.O.U Family TV that the EACOP owners and project managers fully recognize their responsibilities, both in environmental conservation, the land and the communities that will be impacted by the project.

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline will run 1,443km from Kabaale, Hoima district in mid-western Uganda to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania. The biggest part of the pipeline, 80% of it will be in Tanzania and the 20% in Uganda. When complete, it will be the world’s longest electrically heated pipeline.   

It is through this pipeline that oil will be secured by Uganda, Tanzania and other shareholders. EACOP is expected to release 10 kilograms of carbon. This was after the Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was done prior to the commencement of the project.

According to Sarah Birungi Banage, the Head of Corporate Affairs at the Uganda National Oil Company, a number interventions are being made to counter the possible negative effects that may arise from oil production that is expected to begin in 2025.

According to Birungi, the government has now acquired 71% of the land where the pipeline is expected to be laid. A total of 3,792 people were displaced by the project and among these, 43 households that chose physical compensation with houses have already received their houses by built the government and other EACOP shareholders. Birungi noted that compensation is slow largely because of challenges including family disputes, especially on who should receive the compensation.

The Ugandan Government expects to receive significant revenue from oil in form of taxes, exports and offshoots of oil such as gas and raw materials for plastics from the refinery. Birungi said Uganda will receive 2-3 billion US dollars annually from the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. However, even during the construction, many locals, especially those along the EACOP route in districts such as Hoima, Lwengo and Rakai will be employed.

The EACOP will transport oil produced from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the port of Tanga in Tanzania where the oil will be loaded on ships to be sold in the international market.