Land acquisition is a two-phase process.  Prior to 2021 the focus was on surveying and establishing valuations.  During this first phase, land-users were both able to and encouraged to continue to use their land.  The second implementation phase of land acquisition concerns the payment of compensation and establishment of in-kind support programmes.  Per best practice, the compensation is calculated with a disturbance allowance and an uplift to reflect the time elapsed since the original surveys.

Some 13,161 Project Affected Persons (PAPs) along the pipeline route will receive compensation in cash and in-kind directly from EACOP, in line with both National Legislation and the IFC Performance Standards.  The vast majority of these PAPs (96%) have some portion of their land impacted and will receive compensation for the full replacement cost of their land, structures, crops and trees.  Some 4% of the PAPs also require their primary dwelling to be relocated, and they are offered replacement houses of a higher standard than their existing dwelling.  In addition to cash compensation, the majority of PAPs will also be entitled to in-kind compensation including transitional food support, financial literacy training and access to livelihood restoration programs.

In both countries, EACOP has established a field-based team of Community Relations Coordinators and Community Liaison Officers together with an accessible grievance mechanism.  This allows to maintain a constant dialogue between EACOP and the PAPs together with the surrounding communities.  PAPs will leave their affected land only after they have been paid their compensation and received their notice to vacate.  This compensation process was started in 2021 and full land access is planned to be achieved in 2023.