Africa-Press. Tanzania and Uganda have announced they are ready to begin exporting crude oil to international markets in July, a move described by the leaders of both countries as a catalyst for a broader program of energy, transport and infrastructure projects, strengthening bilateral economic cooperation.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at a press conference in Dar es Salaam, following talks with her Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni on Saturday, that the first crude oil shipment will soon depart from Hoima in western Uganda through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.
She stressed that this marks the start of the operational phase of one of the region’s largest cross-border investment projects. She added that crude oil exports are part of a wider cooperation framework that includes additional projects, such as a natural gas pipeline from Tanzania to Uganda and another pipeline for transporting refined petroleum products to the port of Tanga. The two sides also discussed strengthening cooperation in ports, focusing on the roles of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara in supporting regional trade.
In the transport sector, Tanzania proposed linking the port of Tanga to Uganda’s Musoma city via a railway line, enabling the movement of goods across Lake Victoria. The leaders also discussed completing the standard gauge railway from Isaka to Rusumo, with a possible extension into Ugandan territory to enhance regional integration.
Security and diplomatic issues were also on the agenda, particularly the situation in the Great Lakes region, with Tanzania expressing readiness to support regional efforts aimed at restoring stability.
