A high-level delegation led by Uganda’s Minister of Energy Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa, alongside senior government officials and executives from key institutions involved in the project have met their Tanzanian counterparts and inspected the progress so far made on the EACOP Export Terminal at Tanga.
Others on the delegation included , Eng. Geoffrey Ogwang, Acting Commissioner for the Midstream Department; Eng. Herbert Mugizi, Acting Commissioner and EACOP Project Coordinator; Mr. Mathias Katamba, Board Chairman of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC); Ms. Zulaika Mirembe Kasaija, Board Chair of the National Pipeline Company (NPC); Mr. John Bosco Habomugisha, Deputy Managing Director of EACOP; and Mr. Tony Otoa, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of UNOC.
On the Tanzanian side, the meeting was hosted by the Minister for Energy, Deogratius Ndejembi, and attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Energy, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), and the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).and Mineral Development and the Deputy Minister of Energy of the United Republic of Tanzania has inspected progress at the Marine Storage and Terminal (MST) facility in Tanga Region, a key export hub for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.
The visit formed part of the ongoing EACOP project tour aimed at assessing construction progress and operational readiness of critical downstream infrastructure. Officials were briefed about key milestones, safety compliance, and commissioning timelines during the inspection.
The MST facility is a central component of EACOP’s export system and features four crude oil storage tanks with a combined capacity of about two million barrels. Supporting infrastructure includes power generation systems and export pumping facilities that will move crude oil from the storage terminal to the Jetty and Load-Out Facility for shipment to international markets.
The onshore terminal is linked to the export jetty by a two-kilometre trestle, enabling seamless offshore loading operations. Authorities confirmed that essential support systems—covering electrical, instrumentation, telecommunications, and security—as well as the onshore abutment, have been fully completed.
Construction of the offshore mooring and berthing dolphins has reached approximately 85 percent completion, signaling steady progress toward full operational status.
The Marine Storage and Terminal facility is expected to be commissioned from the first quarter of 2026, representing a major milestone for the EACOP project and significantly boosting regional crude oil export capacity.
Officials noted that the inspection reflects strong political backing and sustained cross-border cooperation between Uganda and Tanzania, reinforcing the shared commitment to delivering the EACOP project as a catalyst for regional energy development, infrastructure expansion, and economic integration.
In her remarks ,Nankabirwa congratulated Tanzania on the successful conduct of recent elections and conveyed appreciation to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania for unwavering support to the project. She acknowledged that while EACOP has faced criticism, strong political leadership and close cooperation between the two countries have been essential in maintaining momentum.
The Ugandan minister noted that, beyond receiving regular technical and management reports, her visit was aimed at personally assessing progress on the ground. She emphasized the strategic importance of EACOP in transporting Uganda’s crude oil to international markets and in strengthening regional energy trade.
Nankabirwa also invited Hon. Ndejembi to make a reciprocal visit to Uganda to observe progress at key facilities, including Pump Station One, as a further sign of the strong partnership between the two countries. She added that Tanzania will host Uganda and other partners later this year for the commissioning of the project, marking a major milestone in the EACOP journey.
As a symbol of the strong bilateral ties, the Tanzanian Minister for Energy presented a goodwill gift to his Ugandan counterpart, underscoring the shared commitment to the successful completion of the project.
Beyond infrastructure delivery, the meeting highlighted the broader socio-economic impact of EACOP. Leaders noted that the project is expected to create employment for thousands of people, stimulate skills development, and enhance local participation once associated infrastructure, including the refinery, becomes fully operational. Both sides stressed the importance of preparing citizens with the relevant skills to participate meaningfully in the oil and gas value chain.
