This week, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), in collaboration with its partners—TotalEnergies Uganda,…
EACOP CELEBRATES MILESTONE: COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION OF REPLACEMENT HOUSES FOR PHYSICALLY DISPLACED PROJECT AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS
EACOP is pleased to announce the successful completion and handover of the last replacement housing project at Songakibaoni Village in the Muheza, Tanga Region. The handover of the last house marks the completion of the replacement houses for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project – Tanzania section.
The replacement housing program, comprising a total of 339 houses and their ancillary structures, has been a cornerstone of our commitment to households affected by the land acquisition process.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline Company in Tanzania has handed over a total of 339 houses to 293 physically displaced Project Affected Persons (PAPs) across 8 pipeline affected regions of Kagera, Geita, Shinyanga, Tabora, Singida, Dodoma, Manyara and Tanga; spanning 21 Districts and 102 VillagesI. Of these 339 replacement houses and their ancillary structures, 43 were handed over to 30 PAPs affected by the early land acquisition for the main camps and pipe yards in 2022 in Missenyi, Muleba, Bukombe, Nzega and Singida Districts. The 296 houses were for households affected by the pipeline route land acquisition covering 1143 kms across 8 regions. It is noteworthy that the construction of these houses was entrusted to local contractors employing people from local communities, reinforcing EACOP’s commitment to community involvement and sustainable development. The handover of the last replacement house concludes the long journey of the land acquisition process for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline – Tanzania section.
In Tanzania, 344 of 9904 PAPs were physically displaced, and of these 293 selected replacement houses and ancillary structures as their preferred form of compensation. The construction of the replacement houses followed rigorous engagement with PAPs, the valuation process, disclosure, and a one-to-one briefing on compensation packages prior to signing compensation agreements. Replacement houses are built on land bought by the Project and TPDC or the PAPs existing land. The site plan is laid out as per PAPs preference and technical guidance from EACOP. As part of the housing package each PAP received with his/her houses a 5000-litre water tank as well as a 400-watt solar array, complete with 200 ampere hour battery, inverter, and charger controller.
All Project replacement houses are under a 1-year warranty Period. Within this timeframe, the Project through their contractors shall be responsible to remedy any defects that may arise from with the replacement houses.
Eligible PAPs (with particular attention to the vulnerable) will be provided with transitional support (food baskets), relocation support (to help them to transport their belongings to the new location) and access to livelihood restoration programs, aimed at restoring livelihoods and standards of living.
The replacement housing program is an integral part of EACOP’s activities involving the construction and operation of an underground, cross-border pipeline. This pipeline, designed to transport crude oil from Hoima Uganda to Chongoleani Tanga represents a significant advancement in regional energy infrastructure. EACOP’s commitment to the replacement housing program reflects its commitment to innovation, environmental and social responsibility.
Demonstrating EACOP’s responsibility to maximize local content, the construction of these houses was entrusted to three (3) _skilled local contractors namely SBS Limited, VJ Mistry and CF Builders. It has taken 15 months since their commencement to completion. This approach not only ensured the highest quality construction but also contributed to economic development by promoting local entrepreneurship.
This construction program has brought invaluable benefits to the communities in and around Muheza Tanga Region. Local communities actively participated in the construction process, contributing to its successful completion, and simultaneously building their capacity through hands-on involvement. This contributes to sustainability as well as building community members capacity with valuable skills.
The replacement housing program has provided short-term employment opportunities for local communities. By partnering with local contractors and hiring community members, EACOP injected resources into the local economy, fostering a sense of pride and ownership among the workforces.
Wendy Brown, EACOP General Manager, Tanzania Branch “The completion of the replacement housing program demonstrates EACOP’s commitment to an international financing standards land acquisition process. We are proud to have collaborated with local contractors in the construction process, empowering the communities we serve and ensuring the highest quality construction for those impacted by the pipeline project.”
“Working with VJ Mistry, SBS and CF Builders on this program has been a really collaborative process. EACOP’s commitment to engaging local contractors not only contributed to the success of the program but has also provided economic opportunities for communities.”
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