EACOP project to be completed as planned – Deputy Energy Minister

The Deputy Minister for Energy, Stephen Byabato, assured all stakeholders that the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) would be completed as planned, expressing the government’s satisfaction with the progress achieved so far.

Byabato made the pledge during a meeting with the EACOP project team, led by Martin Tiffen, the Managing Director of EACOP to engage Members of the Tanzanian Parliament at the Parliament headquarters in Dodoma last week.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide an overview of the EACOP project and address key topics such as local content, land, and environmental social components.

During the meeting, the Managing Director of EACOP Martin Tiffen highlighted the discussions held with the Energy Committee and provided a comprehensive summary of the project’s journey from the agreement stage to one year of execution.

The engagement meeting also featured three focused sessions on crucial aspects of the project, including local content, land, and environmental social components.

Members of Parliament actively participated in the meeting, asking questions in both Swahili and English. Their general reaction was positive, with one Parliamentarian from Sojo expressing his satisfaction with the project’s situation.

The engagement meeting marked an important milestone as it was the first time EACOP had the opportunity to meet with Members of Parliament at the Parliament premises.

Additionally, some Parliamentarians had previously visited the project sites in Sojo and Chongoleani, gaining first-hand insights into the project’s operations.

Martha Makoi, the Local Content & Capacity Building Lead at EACOP, provided valuable insights into local content and capacity building during the meeting, further strengthening the collaborative efforts between EACOP and the Parliament

Asiadi Mrutu, an EACOP Project Coordinator from the Tanzania Petroleum Development Cooperation (TPDC), expressed satisfaction with the progress of various project aspects, including ground preparations, camp building, compensation, environmental protection, and safety.

The Members of Parliament praised the EACOP project for its distinctiveness and its commitment to providing attractive compensation to those affected by the project.

Esther Bulaya, a Member of Parliament in Tanzania, particularly highlighted the EACOP project as an excellent model for future projects to follow in terms of compensation.

The engagement meeting with the Tanzanian Parliament represents a significant step forward for the EACOP project, fostering transparency, collaboration, and constructive dialogue with key stakeholders.