KAMPALA, Uganda — The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project has reached a significant milestone, with 58% of the overall construction now complete, according to EACOP officials.

The update was shared by Natasha Kassami, the National Content and Capacity Building Lead at EACOP, during her address to delegates at the 2025 Energy Convention held recently in Kampala. The event was organized by the Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals.

EACOP is the company spearheading the development of the 1,443-kilometer (approximately 897 miles) pipeline that will transport crude oil from Kabaale in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.

Speaking at the energy convention in Kampala, Kassami highlighted key advancements in the project, noting that engineering works are nearing completion at 98%, and procurement of major equipment stands at 83%. She also reported that nearly 80% of the pipeline itself has been manufactured in China and shipped to Tanzania for the initial coating process.

Further progress includes the thermal insulation of 553 kilometers (about 344 miles) of the pipeline, the welding of 233 kilometers (about 145 miles), and the coating of 57 kilometers (about 35 miles), with 17 kilometers (about 10.5 miles) already buried underground.

The advanced pipeline infrastructure will feature six pump stations and two pressure reduction stations, with two of each located within Uganda. Foundation work and equipment installations are currently underway at these Ugandan sites. To ensure operational integrity and safety, intelligent pipeline monitoring systems, including fibre optics and “pig launchers,” are being installed.

Kassami also emphasized the project’s commitment to local capacity development. As of the first quarter of 2025, the project employs 2,483 individuals, with 90% being Ugandan nationals. The project has also accumulated over 8 million man-hours.

Since 2022, EACOP has invested approximately $111 million in local goods and services. A significant focus has also been placed on graduate training, with 74 Ugandan graduates receiving technical training abroad. Many of these graduates have since been employed by EACOP contractors.

To bolster local enterprises, EACOP has conducted numerous industry enhancement training sessions for SMEs and “Train the Trainer” programs for vocational and academic institutions. Kassami also mentioned ongoing discussions with Makerere University in Kampala to integrate energy sector knowledge into their formal curricula.

Looking ahead to the operational phase, EACOP is actively training field operators through its Field Operations Training Academy, with 141 individuals trained in both Tanzania and Uganda.

“Our goal is to deliver meaningful impact,” Kassami concluded in Kampala. “From technical skills development to institutional partnerships, we’re building a foundation for long-term national growth that extends beyond just the pipeline itself.”