Uganda's EACOP Oil Pipeline Project Hits Another Roadblock

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project in Uganda has hit another roadblock, with the commissioning delayed to mid-December and commercial oil production pushed back to June 2027.

This is not the first time the project has faced delays. Initially expected to start producing oil in 2018, the target was revised several times before settling on October 1, 2026. However, Ugandan government officials have now confirmed that the pipeline will be ready to receive crude by mid-December, while commercial production is slated for June next year.

Campaigners opposing EACOP, who have been vocal about the project's environmental and social risks, say this delay shows that affected communities can still influence its future. They argue that achieving commercial production involves more than just completing the pipeline, pointing out that Uganda's oil fields, central processing facilities, pumping infrastructure, and export terminal must all be properly tested and commissioned.

StopEACOP Campaign Coordinator Zaki Mamadoo said, 'The project developers and their allies would have us believe that because construction is nearing completion, EACOP is a done deal. But this delay reminds us that nothing about this project is inevitable.'