Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) – Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli and Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni announced on Tuesday a bilateral deal to construct a 1,120-kilometre oil pipeline from northern Tanzania’s port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean to landlocked Uganda.
The two presidents discussed the upcoming project at a private meeting they had at Arusha State Lodge ahead of the 17th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) leaders, set for Wednesday.
“We have agreed to carry out the project for the benefit of the two countries and other East African neighbours,” President Magufuli said after the meeting, noting that it would generate employment for at least 15,000 people.
No details of the project were immediately available about its capacity, cost and contractors, whether it would be used to move crude oil to and from Uganda or natural gas as well from Tanzania’s gas fields to Uganda.
Uganda expects to start commercial oil production soon and the bulk of the output would require a pipeline to export crude oil.
Tanzania and Zambia jointly own a 1,710-kilometre crude oil pipeline running from Dar es Salaam Port to Ndola in Zambia. It was commissioned in 1968.
On his part, President Museveni congratulated his host for the impressive leadership he has brought on Tanzania and expressed hope that the EAC partner states would emulate President Magufuli’s efforts to speed up regional development.
