04 July 2016, Kampala — Ministry of Energy officials from Uganda and Tanzania will pitch camp in Hoima District for two days starting tomorrow to review progress of implementation plan for development of the proposed crude oil export pipeline.
The Ugandan team is led by Energy minister Irene Muloni while the Tanzanian team is led by Muloni’s counterpart Prof Sospeter Muhongo. The talks will also have representatives from the three oil companies–Tullow, Total and Cnooc.
Following the April’s pronouncement by the regional heads of state that Uganda will develop the pipeline to the Indian Ocean coast via Tanzania, officials from the two countries have been holding back and forth meetings to harmonise legal regimes and policies that will impact the project.
The director of downstream (refinery, pipelines) in the ministry, Mr Robert Kasande, told this newspaper at the weekend that the Hoima meeting is intended to review progress and provide officials from all sides with status updates.
Mr Kasanda also explained that since April, the two countries have since ratified “a draft inter-government agreement” the main document that guides the project.
- The Monitor