By John Ikani
Tanzania’s government has granted approval for the construction of a $3.5 billion crude oil pipeline.
The pipeline, which spans 1,443 kilometers, will transport crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to Tanzania’s Indian Ocean port.
The project, valued at $10 billion, is a collaboration between China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and TotalEnergies of France, as well as the state-owned Uganda National Oil Company.
Both Tanzania and Uganda needed to approve the pipeline, and Uganda issued a license to the project operator, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), last month.
Wendy Brown, EACOP Tanzania’s General Manager, stated that this construction approval is a significant milestone for EACOP, as it allows main construction activities in Tanzania to commence after the ongoing land access process is finished.
However, human rights activists and environmental groups have voiced their opposition to the project, citing concerns that it poses a threat to the fragile ecosystem of the region and the livelihoods of thousands of people.
