Tanga set for major oil refinery

TANGA: TANZANIA and Uganda have reaffirmed their plan to construct a major crude oil refinery in Tanga as part of efforts to strengthen energy security and position the region as a strategic energy hub.

Ugandan President Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had said the proposed refinery would be developed in Tanga through cooperation between the two countries, with Tanga expected to emerge as an important energy hub for East Africa.

President Museveni made the remarks recently during the commissioning of oil storage tanks in Kampala, Uganda, an event attended by Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum) , Dr James Mataragio, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation’s (TPDC) Managing Director, Mussa Makame and Petroleum Commissioner Godluck Shirima.

Mr Museveni said the refinery would support cooperation between Tanzania and Uganda while strengthening petroleum security in East Africa, particularly for the two countries.

President Museveni said crude oil processed at the facility would include supplies from Uganda as well as other oil-producing countries.

He added that, alongside the major refinery planned for Tanzania, a smaller refinery would also be established in Uganda.

For his part, Dr Mataragio said the establishment of the energy hub in Tanga would provide Tanzania with an opportunity to promote its investment potential and stimulate economic development across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

He said large-scale investment in petroleum infrastructure would also contribute to strengthening the security of petroleum product supplies in the SADC region.

Tanzania and Uganda are currently implementing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a 1,443-kilometre pipeline designed to transport crude oil from Hoima in western Uganda to the Chongoleani area in Tanga.

The construction of the pipeline has reached 92 per cent and is expected to be completed in December this year, paving the way for crude oil transportation through the pipeline.

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