A high-level Ugandan delegation, led by Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, paid a courtesy call on Dr. Batilda Buriani, Regional Commissioner of Tanga Region, ahead of a planned field tour to assess progress on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
The Ugandan team included key figures such as Eng. Geoffrey Ogwang, Acting Commissioner of the Midstream Department; Eng. Herbert Mugizi, Acting Commissioner and EACOP Project Coordinator; Mr. Mathias Katamba, Board Chairman of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC); Ms. Zulaika Mirembe Kasaija, Board Chair of the National Petroleum Council; Mr. Rashid Musa Otika, Acting General Manager (NPC/UNOC); Mr. Gilbert Kamuntu, Chief Commercial Officer; and Mr. Tony Otoa, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of UNOC.
Also present were Salome Makamba, Deputy Minister of Energy for the United Republic of Tanzania, and Guillaume Dulout, Managing Director of EACOP.
In welcoming the visitors, Dr. Batilda Buriani highlighted the transformative impact of the EACOP project on Tanga Region, pointing to clear socio-economic gains for local communities.
She expressed optimism that the delegation would be impressed by the pipeline’s advancements, emphasizing the EACOP team’s commitment to rigorous safety protocols and environmental safeguards—particularly in vulnerable coastal zones. She underscored Tanzania’s pride in hosting this strategically vital regional initiative.
During the engagement, Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa remarked that the completion of EACOP will forever change Tanga, noting that the project has already trained and employed over 12,000 workers, with a substantial number drawn from the local area.
She extended gratitude to the Regional Commissioner and Tanzanian leadership for their robust backing, while praising the forward-thinking vision of Tanzania’s President in driving the project forward.
The Minister explained that the visit aimed to provide firsthand insight into the project’s current status. She looked ahead eagerly to October 2026, when Uganda and Tanzania are slated to jointly host the official commissioning ceremony in the presence of both Heads of State.
