The project aims to streamline fuel transportation to landlocked countries, reducing their dependence on trucking systems, which are costly, environmentally harmful, and prone to inefficiencies such as accidents and fuel spillages.
Currently, fuel to Uganda and Rwanda is transported by trucks from Eldoret or Kisumu, with a smaller share moved across Lake Victoria via vessels loaded at Kisumu Oil Jetty and unloaded at Entebbe.
This pipeline project was first conceptualized in 1995 but has faced delays for nearly three decades. Renewed momentum emerged in May 2024 when Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on the pipeline.
Talks expanded further in July 2024 to include Rwanda and South Sudan, signaling the growing importance of regional integration in energy security.
A recent ministerial meeting held in Entebbe, Uganda, brought together energy officials led by Uganda's Minister of State for Energy, Okaasai Sidronius, and Rwanda's High Commission Charge d'Affaires, Ismael Baguma.
At the forum, Rwanda reaffirmed its commitment to the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) framework, noting the pipeline's potential to reduce fuel transportation costs and enhance energy security.
At the onset, the pipeline is envisioned to play a role in fostering economic growth, energy stability, and environmental sustainability for the region. According to analysts, the project is a critical step toward regional energy independence and long-term prosperity.
To fast-track progress, a Joint Technical Committee (JTC) was inaugurated to oversee the project's planning and execution. The JTC is tasked with updating previous studies to ensure alignment with current needs and regional development goals.
The renewed Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali pipeline reflects the collaborative determination of the EAC member states to address energy challenges and unlock economic opportunities across the region.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/eac-member-states-revive-eldoret-kampala-kigali-pipeline-project
