Tanga – A government update on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has confirmed the project is 81 per cent complete and on track for commissioning by July 2026.
During a site visit by Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba on February 16, 2026, Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, provided a detailed progress report, which aligns with information publicly available from the EACOP project’s official communications.
Ms Makamba stated that the government has already collected over Sh70 billion in fees and taxes from the project. She further announced that the nation anticipates earning over Sh2.3 trillion once the pipeline becomes operational.
This specific long-term revenue projection is a new detail that has not been widely publicised.
The total cost of the project is consistently cited at approximately US$5.6 billion, and Tanzania holds a 15 per cent stake. The creation of over 10,000 jobs across Tanzania and Uganda during the construction phase is also a widely reported figure, which Ms Makamba reiterated.
According to the deputy minister, 75 per cent of these jobs have been allocated to low and mid-skilled Tanzanians, with the remaining 25 per cent filled by Tanzanian professionals in technical fields.
She also noted that over 200 local companies have secured contracts valued at more than Sh1.325 trillion.
READ MORE: EACJ Dismisses Petition by Activists Challenging EACOP’s Construction
The 1,443-kilometre pipeline, which will transport crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania, represents a significant infrastructure investment for the region.
During his visit, Prime Minister Nchemba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the strategic project’s timely completion, praising the strong progress made to date.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has championed the project, which is expected to stimulate economic growth, facilitate skills transfer, and bolster the local economy by improving infrastructure, including 304 kilometres of roads along the pipeline’s route.
