Demonstrators Affiliated with XR Storm Marsh Headquarters in Manchester

Demonstrators Affiliated with XR Storm Marsh Headquarters in Manchester

### East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project: Progress and Controversy

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, a $5 billion endeavour spanning 1,443 kilometres, is making significant strides in connecting Uganda's Tilenga and Kingfisher oilfields with the port of Tanga in Tanzania. With a capacity to export up to 246,000 barrels of oil per day, the pipeline is set to be the world's longest heated crude oil pipeline [1][4].

The project, which is jointly owned by TotalEnergies (62% share), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), and the national oil companies of Uganda and Tanzania, has demonstrated tangible benefits for both countries. As of the current stage, over 50% of the pipeline has been completed, creating 8,000 jobs, generating $500 million in local procurement, and delivering 400,000 training hours [1].

However, the EACOP has been met with sustained opposition from climate activists and civil society organisations (CSOs) in East Africa and internationally. Critics argue that the project's environmental and human rights assessments have been inadequate, failing to properly account for climate impacts or engage local communities in meaningful consultation [1].

In Uganda, opposition to the pipeline has been met with increasing government repression. In April 2025, eleven climate activists, known as the KCB11, were arrested after attempting to deliver a letter to Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) in Kampala, raising concerns about the bank’s potential financing of EACOP [2]. The activists remain in detention without bail for over two months, facing substandard conditions. International human rights groups have called for their immediate release, framing their detention as part of a broader pattern of using the legal system to suppress peaceful dissent against fossil fuel projects [2].

In Tanzania, an agreement was reached between the government and EACOP on Project Security Matters. The Tanzanian government and EACOP have established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint coordination, monitoring, and implementation of security measures for the EACOP Project. All security operations under the MoU will be aligned with internationally recognized human rights principles, including the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) and Tanzanian law [1].

The controversy is not isolated to Uganda and Tanzania. Across the region, the pipeline is seen as part of a wider push to expand fossil fuel infrastructure, despite global calls for a transition to renewable energy. The DRC's recent decision to auction new oil blocks, including some that could feed into EACOP, has further heightened ecological and human rights concerns, with activists decrying lack of transparency and community consultation [3].

Proponents of EACOP emphasize its potential to drive economic growth and alleviate energy poverty in East Africa. However, critics highlight that the promised benefits may be overstated. They point to the risks of dependency on volatile oil markets, environmental degradation, and the potential for profits to accrue mainly to foreign corporations and political elites rather than local communities. There is also concern that job creation may be temporary and disproportionately benefit skilled labor, leaving many locals without lasting economic gains [4].

The ongoing legal battles, activist detentions, and international scrutiny highlight the tensions between fossil fuel-driven growth and the urgent global demand for climate action and participatory governance. As the EACOP project moves forward, it remains a contentious issue, encapsulating a clash between development aspirations and sustainability concerns in East Africa.

References: [1] Human Rights Watch (2023) East African Crude Oil Pipeline: Uganda and Tanzania Should Address Human Rights Concerns. Available at: https://www.hrw.org/report/2023/11/03/east-african-crude-oil-pipeline/uganda-and-tanzania-should-address-human-rights [2] Amnesty International (2025) Uganda: Release KCB 11 Climate Activists. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/04/uganda-release-kcb-11-climate-activists/ [3] Friends of the Earth International (2024) East African Crude Oil Pipeline: Expanding Fossil Fuel Infrastructure in the Heart of Africa. Available at: https://foei.org/east-african-crude-oil-pipeline-expanding-fossil-fuel-infrastructure-in-the-heart-of-africa/ [4] The East African (2023) East African Crude Oil Pipeline: Job Creation, Revenue, and Infrastructure. Available at: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/East-African-Crude-Oil-Pipeline-job-creation-revenue-and-infrastructure/article-4539756

1. Critics in the field of environmental science express concerns about the potential environmental impacts of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), arguing that its assessments have been inadequate.
2. The finance sector is under scrutiny as international organizations, such as Amnesty International, question financial institutions' role in funding projects like EACOP, citing human rights violations against activists.
3. Despite the industry's claims that the EACOP project will drive economic growth, the debate in the realm of economics centers around the questionable benefits, such as dependency on volatile oil markets and unequal distribution of profits.
4. As the EACOP project progresses, it has become a flashpoint for the opinion divide between advocates for climatic preservation and proponents of fossil fuel-driven growth, highlighting the need for balanced considerations in the realm of business and energy policymaking.

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