[PRESSWIRE] TANGA, Tanzania – 2026-02-18 — Tanzania’s prime minister says the $5.65 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is now 81 per cent complete, underscoring the strategic importance of the cross-border energy project linking Uganda’s oil fields to Tanzania’s coast.

The 1,443-kilometre heated pipeline will transport crude oil from western Uganda to the port of Tanga for export, with a capacity of up to 246,000 barrels per day. Construction began in 2022, and operations are expected to commence in 2026.

Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said the project is a major pillar of regional economic integration and job creation.

He stressed that local content regulations would be strictly enforced to ensure Tanzanian companies and workers benefit from procurement opportunities. Firms found using proxy registrations to bypass ownership rules would face sanctions, he said.

Tanzania holds a 15 per cent stake in the project, alongside Uganda and international energy partners.

While the pipeline has attracted criticism from environmental groups concerned about climate impacts and biodiversity risks, the governments of Tanzania and Uganda view it as a transformative infrastructure investment expected to boost fiscal revenues and regional connectivity.

Officials say thousands of jobs have already been created during construction, with long-term economic spillovers anticipated in logistics, services and port expansion.

TheEast African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)is a cross-border infrastructure project linking Uganda’s oil fields in Hoima to Tanzania’s port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean.The pipeline spans1,443 kilometresand is designed as a heated crude oil pipeline with a transport capacity of up to246,000 barrels per day.Construction began in2022, with commercial operations expected to start in2026.Media Contact:Information Services Department and Office of The Chief Government Spokesman E-mail: maelezotv@gmail.comPhone: +255 754 750 765; +255 754 698 856; +255 759 714; +255 713 381 904Availability: EAT, UTC +3