The governments of Uganda and Tanzania have signed an agreement to build a US$3.55bn crude oil pipeline, which will boost exports from Uganda
Uganda's energy minister, Irene Muloni, stated that 'the project will take three years to complete and create over 10,000 jobs.'
The 1,445km long pipeline of diameter of 60cms, will begin in Uganda’s western region, where crude reserves were discovered in 2006, and end at Tanzania’s Indian Ocean seaport of Tanga.
Adewale Fayemi, manager at oil giant Total’s Ugandan subsidiary, said that 'the pipeline, which will be heated to keep the thick oil liquid enough to flow easily, could be the world’s longest heated pipeline.'
According to African Business Magazine, Uganda estimates overall crude reserves at 6.5bn barrels, while recoverable reserves could be between 1.4bn and 1.7bn barrels. French multinational oil and gas giant Total has joint ownership of Uganda’s oilfields, alongside China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Britain’s Tullow Oil.
