Parliamentary committee on environment and natural resources assesses EACOP readiness for first oil in Tanzania

What the report says

Uganda’s Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has completed an oversight visit to East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) facilities in Tanzania to review progress on the project and preparations linked to Uganda’s first oil. The delegation was led by Ann Maria Nankabirwa, the committee’s vice chairperson, and the trip included briefings in Dar es Salaam and site visits in Tanga.

According to The Independent Uganda, the lawmakers met Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Amb. Col. (Rtd) Fred Mwesigye, who described the pipeline as a shared regional investment and said the largest section runs through Tanzania. He also expressed confidence in the project timeline, with first oil expected in December 2026. The committee said it was assessing readiness, local content participation, corporate social responsibility, and the impact on communities affected by the project.

At the Marine Export Terminal in Tanga, officials briefed the MPs on construction and operational preparations. The report said the terminal’s four storage tanks were 94% complete, thermal insulation work was 83% complete, and installation, testing and commissioning were continuing. The delegation also visited Pumping and Receiving Station Two, where construction progress was reported at 96%.

The committee raised questions about timelines, compensation, livelihood restoration and support for Project Affected Persons. It said any budget issues identified could be handled through parliamentary processes. The visit was coordinated by Uganda’s Petroleum Authority, Tanzania’s Petroleum Development Corporation and Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy, underscoring the cross-border cooperation needed to bring EACOP into service.