THE East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project and its main contractor, China Petroleum Pipeline (CPP), have urged traders in Handeni District, Tanga Region, to seize business opportunities for supply of food services for approximately 500 workers currently based at camp MCPY 15.

Speaking at a meeting with local traders here yesterday, Martha Makoi, Local Content, Capacity Building Lead at EACOP, explained that one caterer recently won tender to provide food services at the camp. The company will need food supplies such as rice, fish, meat and vegetables from local suppliers.

 “We organised this meeting to inform food industry players about the opportunities arising from the contract awarded to that company,” she said. She emphasised that the initiative aligns with the government's local content policy, prioritising local businesses when employment or service opportunities arise near project areas.

 “This approach has been implemented at other camps, whereby winning companies collaborate with local traders for service provision,” she added.

 Mercy Ikaji, Local Content Manager at CPP, highlighted that the tenderer will provide economic opportunities for local food vendors.

 “This plan will enable local traders to sell food products to the camp and earn income,” she said. “Both CPP and EACOP are committed to ensuring local residents benefit from the project.”

 Ikaji also mentioned that another company won cleanliness services tender at the camp, offering additional opportunities for local businesses.

 She shared that three of the 16 camps had already been completed, including MCPY 8 in Igunga, Singida and MCPY 6 in Kagera, creating job opportunities through various community services.

Paulo Lusinde from Handeni Town Council noted that over 100 food stakeholders attended the meeting, including butchers, grain suppliers and vegetable sellers. “Registered traders can apply to supply food at the camp through the tenderer,” he explained.

Anastazia Temba, a trader, expressed her excitement about the potential benefits, especially for women in the food industry. 

“This opportunity has the potential to change our lives for the better,” she said.

 EACOP project spans 16 camps across eight regions, benefiting 24 districts, 134 wards and over 180 villages along the 1,443-kilometre pipeline route from Hoima, Uganda to Tanga.

 The project’s partners are TotalEnergies (62 percent), Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) (15 percent each) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) (8 percent).