The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has announced that works on the $4 billion Tanga-Uganda oil pipeline will commence in August 2016 and is scheduled to be concluded within three years.

According to TPDC’s Executive Director, James Mataragio, the project is to be performed by Tullow Oil plc, Total E&P and Cnooc.

“We are working round the clock to enable the project to commence and proceed according to schedule. It is anticipated that thousands of tons of bare pipes, materials and equipment for pipe insulation, pump, bulk heating and trace heating stations will be imported through Tanga port,” Mataragio said.

The 1,403-km pipeline will go from Tanga to Uganda via Singida and the Kagera regions. When completed, it will have the capacity to transport about 200,000 bopd and will connect oil fields in Uganda's Lake Albert, Hoima region to the Tanga port which is to be an export hub.

Mataragio noted that the pipeline project is anticipated to boost Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Tanzania by over 50% every year, IPP Media reports.

Anita Fatunji