China’s government has invited Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa to Beijing to discuss financing the $5 billion East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
Demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the development of the project, Uganda’s presidency received a letter from China’s President Xi Jinping on April 5 expressing Beijing’s endorsement towards the pipeline.
“The message reaffirmed China’s commitment to collaborating with Uganda to ensure the success of the Project,” Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni stated, adding, “Chinese financial institutions are open to discussions on the project and extended an invitation to Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, to visit China for further discussions.”
The 1,443km heated pipeline will transport crude from oilfields in landlocked Uganda’s Lake Albert to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania where it will be sold to international markets.
In March, the project received a thermal unit that was put into operation to insulate the pipes before installation. Meanwhile, Chinese steel pipe manufacturer the Panyu Chu Kong Steel Pipe Company delivered the first 100km of pipeline for the project in December last year.
