As preparations for the construction of the 1,410-kilometre oil pipeline from Lake Albert in Uganda to Tanga Port in Tanzania are progressing, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has shown interest in using the facility for the transportation of its crude.

The proposed pipeline which will have the capacity of transport 200,000 barrels of oil per day will provide 1,500 direct employment and 20,000 indirect employments.

According to DRC’s Minister In-charge of Hydrocarbons, Ngoi Mukena, his country has discovered substantial oil and wished to use the crude oil pipeline since the area where the oil was discovered is close to the proposed location for the construction of the pipeline.

“I believe that if my country will succeed in using the pipeline, it will be beneficial to both countries in addition to being one way of strengthening our bilateral relations,” he said.

Mukena added that his country will at first be transporting 30,000 barrels per day and the amount will later increase to 100,000 barrel per day.

Tanzanian Minister for Energy and Minerals, Sospeter Muhongo, has said that the pipeline which the DRC government has shown interest in, will not only convey crude oil from Uganda.

He added that upon completion, the pipeline will have the capacity of transporting 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day and Tanzania will benefit from this through taxes and tariffs from the companies that will be using the pipeline.

The Tanzanian President, John Magufuli, after receiving the report on the progress of works on the construction of the pipeline from the Vice-President of Total East Africa, Javier Rielo, said he is confident that the project will be of great benefit to Tanzania, Uganda, Total and neighboring countries, Tanzania Daily News reports.

Anita Fatunji