Tanzania and Uganda plan to make their first oil shipment through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) by July 2026, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said after meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Officials from both countries said they are discussing technical issues related to starting crude oil exports, as well as supporting infrastructure projects like pipelines for refined petroleum products.
Tanzanian ports, including Tanga and Dar es Salaam, will serve as main export points for the crude. Officials also mentioned port upgrades to handle the increased traffic from the EACOP project.
The 1,443-kilometer heated pipeline will link Uganda’s oil fields in the Hoima region to the Tanzanian coast. It is one of the largest energy infrastructure projects currently under construction in East Africa.
On February 6, 2026, EACOP Ltd., the company managing the pipeline, reported that the project had reached 79 % completion after an inspection led by Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa.
This progress comes as Uganda accelerates preparations for oil production beyond the EACOP route. Authorities are setting up the infrastructure needed to bring oil fields into production before crude exports begin.
The preparations cover several parts of the oil value chain, including production facilities, a 60,000-barrel-per-day refinery, and logistics systems. GlobalData projects that Uganda will have the highest new oil storage capacity in Africa by 2030.
The EACOP pipeline, valued at over $5 billion, forms the backbone of Uganda’s oil development. Once finished, it will allow Uganda to export a portion of its projected crude output of 246,000 barrels per day to international markets.
source: www.ecofinagency.com
African Energy Council