Uganda-Tanzania Oil Pipeline Construction To Start ASAP, Total Says

According to a statement by the department of communication of the State House issued today, The Vice President of Total East Africa Mr. Javier Rielo has assured the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. John Magufuli, that the multinational company will begin construction of the Uganda-Tanzania pipeline to transport oil from Lake Albert to Tanga port as soon as possible.

Mr. Rielo has made the announcement today when meeting with President Magufuli in Dar es salaam, indicating that the company expects to invest nearly USD 4 billion for the project.

The project will involve the construction of a pipeline with a length of 1,410 kilometers, to transport 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Hoima, at Lake Albert in Uganda to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania.

The pipeline project has potential to generate 1,500 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs.

During the meeting President Magufuli urged Total to accelerate the process of starting the project, and to ensure it is completed within the allotted three years timeframe.

For his part, Tanzania’s Minister of Energy and Mines Prof. Sospeter Muhongo, said his Ministry is ready to ensure the project is successful and will provide integration to accelerate its implementation.

Between 2000 and 2009, a considerable amount of oil deposits, estimated at between 2.5 billion to 3.5 billion barrels, have been discovered in Lake Albert and on the shores of the lake in Hoima District.

Negotiations to develop the Hoima-Tanga oil pipeline were recently concluded, with the Presidents on Uganda and Tanzania agreeing to export 6.5 billion barrels of Ugandan oil reserves through the Indian Ocean.