The East African Crude Oil Pipeline has reached 82% overall completion as of April 2026, with construction advancing across pipeline sections, pump stations, and the Chongoleani Marine Terminal in Tanga, Tanzania. The 1,443-kilometre pipeline is progressing steadily toward First Oil, with all line pipes now delivered to site and the marine jetty reporting 88.1% completion.
The Chongoleani Marine Terminal is the critical export point for landlocked Ugandan crude, and its near-completion marks a significant de-risking milestone for the entire project. The terminal's jetty, which will load tankers bound for international markets, is among the most technically demanding elements of the infrastructure chain. Progress at this rate suggests the marine loading facilities are on a credible path to mechanical completion in the near term, though no formal First Oil date has been confirmed in the source reporting.
Across the pipeline route, construction spans both Ugandan and Tanzanian territory, covering some of East Africa's most logistically complex terrain. The delivery of all line pipes removes one of the principal supply-chain risks that have historically caused delays on large-diameter cross-border pipeline projects in the region. Pump station construction is also advancing in parallel, which is essential to achieving designed throughput once crude flow begins.
EACOP has been one of the most closely watched infrastructure projects on the continent, attracting sustained attention from governments, financiers, and international contractors alike. At 1,443 kilometres, it will be among the world's longest electrically heat-traced crude oil pipelines when operational — a technical requirement driven by the waxy nature of Ugandan crude, which must be kept warm to flow. This heat-trace specification has significant implications for the engineering and equipment supply chain throughout the pipeline's operational life.
For the Norwegian oil and gas service sector, the project's advancing completion means the operational and maintenance phase is moving into clearer view. Marine terminal operations, tanker loading systems, pipeline integrity management, and heat-trace monitoring all represent segments where specialist contractors and technology providers are typically engaged post-commissioning. Norwegian companies with competencies in marine loading arms, metering systems, subsea-to-shore interfaces, and pipeline inspection tools should treat the 82% completion figure as a signal to map the upcoming operational procurement cycle and identify which Tanzanian and Ugandan entities will manage post-FO maintenance contracting.