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Energy minister tours EACOP project ahead of first oil

At Pump Station 1, which is the starting point of the 1,443-kilometre EACOP, the Minister was briefed on construction progress and preparations to receive crude oil from the Kingfisher and Tilenga oil fields

Dr. Musenero being led by the EACOP officials to the accommodations camp at PS1 during her visit..
By: Moses Kigongo, Journalist @New Vision


The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Monica Musenero, on Monday morning visited Pump Station 1 of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Kabaale, Hoima District, to assess progress on the project ahead of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s planned tour of Uganda’s oil projects on Wednesday.

The visit is part of efforts to get an update on the state of the critical oil infrastructure as Uganda prepares for first oil, expected before the end of this year.

At Pump Station 1, which is the starting point of the 1,443-kilometre EACOP, the Minister was briefed on construction progress and preparations to receive crude oil from the Kingfisher and Tilenga oil fields.

The crude will be transported through the heated pipeline to the Chongoleani Marine Storage Terminal near Tanga Port in Tanzania, where it will be stored before being exported into international markets.

The minister (left) greeting some of the EACOP officials at her arrival at PS1 during her readiness check visit.

The minister (left) greeting some of the EACOP officials at her arrival at PS1 during her readiness check visit.



The visit comes as activity intensifies across Uganda’s oil and gas value chain, with operators working to ensure that the production and evacuation infrastructure is ready for first oil.

According to EACOP deputy managing director, John Bosco Habumugisha, the pipeline project has reached 92% completion, putting it closer to operational readiness.

The President’s planned visit on Wednesday is expected to provide an opportunity for the government to assess progress across the oil projects and the remaining works required to achieve first oil.

Uganda’s oil development is entering a critical phase, with the completion of EACOP and the upstream projects key to enabling the country to begin exporting crude through the Tanzanian port of Tanga.

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Minister Dr. Monica Musenero
Pump Station 1
EACOP