Uganda has granted a license to construct a pipeline between Tanzania and Uganda to transport hydrocarbons from East Africa to international market. This project has been criticized by environmentalists.
“The approval (of the license) is another sign to demonstrate the common commitment of the two countries to develop the EACOP project in a harmonized manner,” Ugandan Information Minister Godfrey Kabbyanga told media. Following Monday’s green signal by the Ugandan Government, the license was given to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Company Ltd. (62%) consortium.
TotalEnergies announced in Feb a $10 billion investment agreement (EACOP), with Uganda, Tanzania, CNOOC and China. It includes the construction a 1,443 km pipeline (EACOP), linking the Lake Albert oilfields of western Uganda to Tanzania’s coast on the Indian Ocean.
However, the project has been opposed by activists and environmental groups who believe it threatens the region’s fragile ecosystem and the people who live there.
Lake Albert, the natural border between Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, is home to an estimated 6.5 billion barrels of crude petroleum. Of these, about 1.4 billion are considered recoverable. The first drop in Ugandan oil will be released in 2025, almost two decades after the discoveries of the reserves.
President Yoweri Mugabe will attend the Tuesday launch of drilling operations at the Kingfisher oil fields, Lake Albert, which is being operated by CNOOC. Museveni described the project as a major source of income for the landlocked nation, where many people are living in poverty.
Source: north africa post
