EXPERTS and Academicians yesterday showered praise on the implementation of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project, saying the project has complied with all international standards yet benefited local communities.

Speaking separately here yesterday, they said the mega project which starts at Hoima in Uganda and to Tanga’s Chongoleani in Tanzania has been implemented professionally and that societies living alongside the project are set to benefit dearly.  

Prof Faustin Kamuzora, Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary credited the project as unique and met all required international standards.

“Of projects I witnessed, EACOP is among the best projects whose implementation has the highest quality of standards. I have seen the project since it was during the feasibility study up to now,” Prof Kamuzora said.

He said he hails from the Kagera Region where the project started in Uganda coming to the Tanzanian side where people living along the project understand the socio-economic benefits of the mega project.

This pipeline passes through eight regions in mainland Tanzania: Kagera, Geita, Shinyanga, Tabora, Singida, Dodoma, Manyara, and Tanga, encompassing 24 districts, 134 wards, and over 180 villages.

Dr Tasco Romanus Luambano, an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania and Senior Lecturer of Mzumbe University, Mbeya Campus spoke tall about the project, saying the project completion would have a multi-plier effect on the socio-economic growth of the country.

“I have visited some of the areas where the pipeline will pass through, in fact, I was really impressed. I tried also to talk to local communities, and they were happy with the project for transforming their lives,” Dr Luambano explained.

Oil and Gas Expert, Jackson Jalimba commended the governments of Tanzania and Uganda for jointly agreeing to implement an important project, saying it put the two countries on the global map.

The project shareholders are TotalEnergies (62 percent), Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) (15 percent), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) (eight percent), and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) (15 percent).