Uganda has vowed to continue the ongoing construction of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline – EACOP despite pressure from environmental activists to halt the project.
The Energy and Mineral Development Minister, Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu has noted that the Uganda-Tanzania Crude Oil Pipeline – UTCOP has suffered blackmail since its inception in 2013.
The Minister emphasized the pressure and blackmail from activists will not distract the government and the project funders, adding that 40 percent of the total USD 3.04 billion, approximately 11.449 trillion has already been secured to deliver the long-awaited pipeline.
The Minister’s comment follows a report by GreenFaith, an international and multi-faith climate justice organization which accused French fossil fuel giant, TotalEnergies of disrespecting over 2,000 graves along the proposed 1,443-km-long underground oil pipeline.
In the “As If Nothing Is Sacred” report by GreenFaith, the affected families argued that they have suffered emotional and spiritual trauma due to the actions of the project developers.
Consequently, the Uganda and Tanzania clerics in a joint report called for an immediate halt to the project until the issues are resolved.
But according to Nankabirwa, Uganda’s hope to produce the first oil is on course and drilling has commenced at Kingfisher, the first commercial oil field in Kikuube, and Tilenga in Buliisa Districts.
The Kingfisher and Tilenga oil fields are anticipated to produce 40,000 and 190,000 barrels of oil every day respectively.
The Minister also revealed that the government has procured the services of a new developer for the oil refiner who has commenced work on the ground.
In spite of the delays, Dr Nankabirwa noted that Uganda’s first oil will be out latest in 2026.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline Company Limited has a shareholding of 62 percent from Total Energies while 15 percent will come from the host Government of Uganda through the National Oil Company.
Equally, the Government of Tanzania owns 15 percent shares through the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation – TPDC, and 8 percent shares for China National Offshore Oil Company – CNOOC Uganda Ltd.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
