25 May 2017
Turning point
Uganda and Tanzania sign the intergovernmental agreement
Tanzania and Uganda signed the Intergovernmental Agreement for the EACOP system on 25 May 2017, according to EACOP Ltd.
Company
How the East African Crude Oil Pipeline unfolded
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline is a 1,447 kilometre pipeline being built to carry crude from Uganda's Lake Albert fields to the port of Tanga in Tanzania, owned by TotalEnergies, UNOC, TPDC and CNOOC, according to EACOP Ltd. Partners took the final investment decision in February 2022, and the project has faced opposition from rights and climate groups and a September 2022 European Parliament resolution. A challenge at the East African Court of Justice failed on time limits, the first financing tranche closed in 2025, and first commercial oil is now expected by mid 2027.
25 May 2017 to today · 18 dated events · 21 sources
Where it stands now · as of 1 November 2026
Daily News reported in September 2026, citing TPDC, that the pipeline was 92.7 percent complete and that the first tanker loading at Tanga was expected in March 2027. A Ugandan parliamentary committee chair said first commercial oil was expected before the end of June 2027, according to the Associated Press.
Next date
December 2026 crude expected at a Ugandan pumping station, per Daily News citing TPDC
December 2026 crude expected at a Ugandan pumping station, per Daily News citing TPDC
In 30 seconds: the turning points
- 25 May 2017 Uganda and Tanzania sign the intergovernmental agreement
- 6 Nov 2020 Four civil society groups sue at the East African Court of Justice
- 11 Apr 2021 Uganda host government, shareholder and tariff agreements signed
- 1 Feb 2022 Partners take the final investment decision
- 15 Sep 2022 European Parliament adopts resolution on the project
- 10 Jul 2023 Human Rights Watch report on land acquisition
pipeline length1,447 kmper EACOP Ltd
complete92.7%per Daily News, citing TPDC, September 2026
first debt tranche$755mper The EastAfrican (Nation Media Group)
people at risk of displacement100,000+European Parliament and Human Rights Watch estimate
Timeline of events
Overview · 25 May 2017 to 21 Sep 2026 · click a dot to jump
2017
· · · 41 months later
2020
6 Nov 2020
Turning point
Four civil society groups sue at the East African Court of Justice
AFIEGO and CEFROHT of Uganda, Natural Justice of Kenya and the Centre for Strategic Litigation of Tanzania sued the governments of Uganda and Tanzania and the EAC Secretary General, asking the court to declare the pipeline and its agreements unlawful and halt construction in protected areas, Natural Justice said. The Daily Monitor gave the filing date as 6 November 2020.
2021
11 Apr 2021
Turning point
Uganda host government, shareholder and tariff agreements signed
Uganda signed its host government agreement for the pipeline along with the shareholders agreement and the transportation and tariff agreement, EACOP Ltd said. Hart Energy reported the pipeline was then estimated at 3.5 billion dollars and that about 263 NGOs had urged 25 banks not to fund it.
“a very large project, one of the largest we should develop on this continent”Patrick Pouyanne, TotalEnergies chief executive, Hart Energy
20 May 2021
Tanzania host government agreement signed
The Tanzania host government agreement was signed at State House in Dar es Salaam, witnessed by Presidents Samia Suluhu Hassan and Yoweri Museveni, EACOP Ltd said.
2022
1 Feb 2022
Turning point
Partners take the final investment decision
TotalEnergies, CNOOC, UNOC and TPDC announced the final investment decision in Kampala on the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil fields and the pipeline, about 10 billion dollars in total, with production expected to start in 2025, TotalEnergies said. It gave pipeline stakes as TotalEnergies 62 percent, UNOC 15, TPDC 15 and CNOOC 8.
“We are fully aware of the important social and environmental challenges it represents.”Patrick Pouyanne, TotalEnergies (Business Wire)
$10 billion total Lake Albert investment including EACOP, per TotalEnergies🇺🇬 Kampala
TotalEnergies (Business Wire)
TotalEnergies (Business Wire)15 Sep 2022
Turning point
European Parliament adopts resolution on the project
The European Parliament urged TotalEnergies to take a year before launching the project to study an alternative route, called for the immediate release of arbitrarily arrested human rights defenders and stated that more than 100,000 people were at imminent risk of displacement without proper guarantees of adequate compensation, according to the Parliament's Legislative Observatory summary. The resolution is not binding on the companies.
16 Sep 2022
Uganda's Parliament rejects the European resolution
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said challenging the approval of the projects was an affront to the independence of Uganda's Parliament, AFP reported.
“affront to the independence of this house”Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker of Uganda's Parliament, Solar Daily (AFP)
2023
10 Jul 2023
Turning point
Human Rights Watch report on land acquisition
Human Rights Watch said, based on over 90 interviews, that families losing land to the project faced delayed and inadequate compensation and felt pressure to sign, and that the project should not be completed. TotalEnergies told AFP that more than 94 percent of people who signed agreements had received compensation. Human Rights Watch said TotalEnergies disputed the pressure claim and its land contractor Atacama Consulting rejected it.
Nov 2023
EACJ First Instance Division dismisses the case as time barred
A five judge First Instance Division panel led by Principal Judge Yohane Masara dismissed the case as filed outside the EAC Treaty's time limit, with costs against the applicants, the Daily Monitor reported. Natural Justice and The EastAfrican also reported the dismissal on time limits. The groups appealed in December 2023, Natural Justice said.
2024
Nov 2024
Appeal heard in Arusha and later in Kigali
The Appellate Division took up Appeal No. 4 of 2023 in Arusha in November 2024 and adjourned it to allow the appellants to file missing documents, the court said. Natural Justice said the appeal was heard in Arusha in November 2024 and in Kigali in February 2025.
2025
26 Mar 2025
Turning point
EACOP Ltd closes first tranche of external financing
EACOP Ltd said it had closed the first tranche of external financing with Afreximbank, Standard Bank of South Africa, Stanbic Bank Uganda, KCB Bank Uganda and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, without giving an amount, The Independent reported. EACOP Ltd said overall progress exceeded 50 percent at the end of 2024.
2025
The EastAfrican reports the project fully funded to first oil
The EastAfrican, a Nation Media Group title, reported the first debt tranche at 755 million dollars, citing an audit of EACOP Ltd, and a debt to equity ratio revised to 52 to 48, which it linked to the withdrawal of several Western lenders. It quoted UNOC's chief legal officer as saying the final tranche would come from Chinese banks and Uganda's energy permanent secretary as saying the project was fully funded.
“the project is now fully funded until First Oil”Irene Batebe, Permanent Secretary, Uganda Ministry of Energy, The EastAfrican, Nation Media Group (via Zawya)
26 Nov 2025
Turning point
EACJ Appellate Division upholds dismissal
A five judge panel led by Justice Nestor Kayobera held that the case was filed out of time and that the court lacked jurisdiction, and dismissed it, according to Natural Justice, The Observer and The EastAfrican. The Observer quoted the court as directing each party to bear its own costs at trial and on appeal, citing the public interest, which overturned the earlier costs award. The EastAfrican instead reported costs awarded to the respondents.
“The case is hereby dismissed.”Justice Nestor Kayobera, The EastAfrican
Dec 2025
Pipeline reported about 75 percent complete
Oil Price, citing Reuters, reported that the Petroleum Authority of Uganda said the pipeline was 75 percent complete. TotalEnergies says the pipeline and Tilenga are among its lowest emission operations, the report said.
2026
5 Jan 2026
Energy ministers target October 2026 for first exports
Uganda's energy minister Ruth Nankabirwa and Tanzania's Deogratius Ndejembi set October 2026 for the first crude exports, saying the project was 79 percent complete at the end of December 2025 and on track for startup readiness by 31 July 2026, The EastAfrican reported. Daily News reported the same October 2026 export target.
Mar 2026
Pipeline 81 percent complete, Parliament told
The Petroleum Authority of Uganda told the Public Accounts Committee of Uganda's Parliament in March 2026 that the pipeline was 81 percent complete and first oil was expected by the end of July 2026, the Associated Press reported, as carried by Voice of Nigeria.
15 Sep 2026
Turning point
First commercial oil moved to before end of June 2027
Maximus Ochai, chair of the finance committee of Uganda's Parliament, said first commercial oil production was now expected before the end of June 2027, relaying Finance Ministry and oil agency officials, the Associated Press reported, as carried by Voice of Nigeria. He said the pipeline would be ready to receive crude by mid December 2026.
“the first commercial oil production is now expected before the end of June 2027”Maximus Ochai, Voice of Nigeria (AP)
21 Sep 2026
Pipeline reported 92.7 percent complete
Daily News reported that the pipeline was 92.7 percent complete, in a report based on remarks by TPDC managing director Mussa Makame in Dodoma. It said crude was expected at a Ugandan pumping station in December 2026 and at the Chongoleani terminal in Tanga in February 2027, with the first tanker loading expected in March 2027.
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Sources
21 records, ranked by type- 1Subject's own statement20 May 2021Host Government Agreements SignedEACOP Ltd · eacop.com
- 2News reportApr 2021Uganda, Tanzania, oil firms sign accords to build $3.5 billion pipelineHart Energy · hartenergy.com
- 3Subject's own statement1 Feb 2022TotalEnergies, Uganda and Tanzania: Launch of the Lake Albert Resources Development Project TotalEnergies (Business Wire) · businesswire.com
- 4Official record15 Sep 2022Resolution on violations of human rights in Uganda and Tanzania linked to investments in fossil fuels projects, 2022/2826(RSP), summaryEuropean Parliament Legislative Observatory · oeil.europarl.europa.eu
- 5News report16 Sep 2022Uganda furious at EU parliament censure of mega oil project (AFP)Solar Daily (AFP) · solardaily.com
- 6News report10 Jul 2023Uganda: Oil Pipeline Project Impoverishes Thousands
Human Rights Watch · hrw.org - 7News report10 Jul 2023HRW says TotalEnergies oil project 'a disaster' for Ugandans (AFP)eNCA (AFP) · enca.com
- 8Subject's own statement26 Nov 2025We have seen the oil curse, EACOP-affected people say after court upholds dismissal of EACOP case on narrow legal technicalityNatural Justice · naturaljustice.org
- 9News reportNov 2025EAC court clears way for regional pipeline projectThe EastAfrican · theeastafrican.co.ke
- 10Subject's own statement26 Mar 2025EACOP Ltd announces the closing of the first financing tranche for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline projectEACOP Ltd · eacop.com
- 11News report26 Mar 2025East African Crude Oil Pipeline project secures massive financial injection from African banksThe Independent (Uganda) · independent.co.ug
- 12News report2025How Eacop sponsors finally got $5bn financing sewn upThe EastAfrican, Nation Media Group (via Zawya) · zawya.com
- 13News report12 Dec 2025Controversial $5 billion EACOP project is now three-quarters complete (Oil Price)Oil and Gas 360 (Oil Price, citing Reuters) · oilandgas360.com
- 14News reportJan 2026Uganda, Tanzania set October start for first oil exports via pipelineThe EastAfrican · theeastafrican.co.ke
- 15News report15 Sep 2026Uganda reschedules first commercial oil production timelineVoice of Nigeria (AP) · von.gov.ng
- 16News report21 Sep 2026EACOP project hits 92.7 percent completion as Tanga expects first drop of oil in early 2027Daily News (Tanzania) · dailynews.co.tz
- 17News reportNov 2023Why East African court dismissed EACOP caseDaily Monitor (Uganda) · monitor.co.ug
- 18News report27 Nov 2025East African court dismisses appeal against EACOP projectThe Observer (Uganda) · observer.ug
- 19News report13 Jan 2026Uganda, Tanzania near crude export milestoneDaily News (Tanzania) · dailynews.co.tz
- 20Subject's own statementEACOP overviewEACOP Ltd · eacop.com
- 21Official record15 Nov 2024Court adjourns hearing of appeal on crude oil pipeline, grants two weeks to file missing documentsEast African Court of Justice · eacj.org
Last updated 1 November 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.