By Guest Writer
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Monica Musenero, has toured the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Pump Station One in Kabaale, Hoima District, as Uganda intensifies preparations for first oil.
The visit provided the Minister and her delegation with an opportunity to assess progress on the EACOP project, which is set to transport crude oil from Uganda’s Kingfisher and Tilenga oil fields to the Tanzanian coast for export to international markets.
Pump Station One marks kilometre point zero of the 1,443-kilometre heated crude oil pipeline, with 296 kilometres located in Uganda and 1,147 kilometres running through Tanzania.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Musenero said EACOP and other oil and gas projects present an important opportunity to drive long-term social, technological and economic transformation in Uganda.
“I am happy to visit one of the projects that is set to positively impact millions of Ugandans and generations to come in terms of social, technological and economic transformation. We believe that EACOP, together with the other oil-related projects, is a blessing to our country and will spur significant growth and innovation,” Dr Musenero said.
The Minister said Uganda’s oil development was taking place at a time of growing global debate around the future of fossil fuels, stressing the importance of ensuring that the country harnesses the value of its resources responsibly.
“Our oil is coming at a time when there are global campaigns against oil. However, I wish I could say that there is evidence of reduced emissions or reduced consumption of petroleum products, but that is not the case,” she said.
“There is no country that has stopped using petroleum products. Every day, planes are flying, vehicles are on the roads and industries across the world continue to rely on petroleum. We must therefore ask ourselves why EACOP is being singled out.”
Dr Musenero said Uganda remains a minimal contributor to global emissions and is committed to ensuring that its oil resources are developed responsibly while supporting the country’s transition towards greener sources of energy.
“Uganda contributes very minimally to global emissions, yet we are deliberately working towards producing a carbon-neutral barrel. Our objective is to harness the value from our oil resources responsibly so that we can also invest in greener forms of energy and transition together with the rest of the world,” she said.
The Minister further emphasised the importance of using Uganda’s oil and gas sector to stimulate growth beyond petroleum production and create opportunities for Ugandans.
“We must transform the oil and gas sector beyond the production of oil itself. The sector should stimulate the growth of other industries and value chains that can create opportunities for educated Ugandans to access meaningful, salaried employment, earn a living and contribute to the country’s economic and social transformation,” Dr Musenero added.
EACOP Deputy Managing Director John Bosco Habumugisha said the project has now reached 92% completion, bringing Uganda closer to having the infrastructure required to transport its crude oil to international markets.
“The EACOP project has now reached 92% completion, bringing us closer to operational readiness as Uganda prepares for first oil,” Habumugisha said.
He said the project has entered a critical stage, with commissioning and testing activities now taking place alongside the completion of the remaining construction works.
“We have entered a very important phase of the project where commissioning and testing activities are taking place alongside the completion of the remaining construction works. Our focus is increasingly shifting towards ensuring that the critical systems are ready to safely receive and transport Uganda’s crude oil,” he said.
Habumugisha explained that while some activities remain across the wider project, not all of them are critical to the pipeline’s ability to begin receiving crude oil.
“It is important to note that some of the activities required to achieve 100% completion of the wider project, including administrative facilities, restoration works and drainage infrastructure, are not necessarily critical to the pipeline’s ability to begin receiving crude oil,” Habumugisha said.
He said the project is increasingly focusing on testing the critical infrastructure and systems that will support the transportation of Uganda’s crude oil.
“Our attention is now increasingly focused on testing the key operational systems, including the facilities at Pump Station One, the fibre-optic infrastructure and the pipeline heating system,” he said.
The heated pipeline is a critical component of the EACOP project, designed to facilitate the safe and efficient transportation of Uganda’s crude oil over the 1,443-kilometre distance.
“The heating system is a critical component of EACOP. It will enable us to transport Uganda’s crude safely and efficiently through the pipeline from Hoima to the Tanzanian coast,” Habumugisha said.
Once production begins, crude oil from the Kingfisher and Tilenga fields will enter the EACOP system at Hoima before being transported through Uganda and Tanzania to the Chongoleani Marine Storage Terminal near the Port of Tanga.
“The crude oil from the Kingfisher and Tilenga fields will enter the EACOP system here in Hoima and be transported through Uganda and Tanzania to the Chongoleani Marine Storage Terminal near the Port of Tanga. From there, the crude will be stored before being loaded for export to international markets,” Habumugisha said.
The Minister’s visit comes at a critical stage in Uganda’s journey towards first oil, as government and industry players work to align progress across the upstream production facilities, pipeline infrastructure and export systems.
With EACOP entering its final phase of construction and commissioning, attention is increasingly shifting towards operational readiness as Uganda moves closer to commercial oil production and exports. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
