en.Wedoany.com Reported - Since construction began, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has crossed 158 wetlands in Uganda, posing irreversible risks to the ecosystems of protected areas such as Murchison Falls National Park.
Approximately two decades ago, commercial oil reserves were confirmed in Uganda's Albertine Graben. Since then, the EACOP project has faced controversy and delays, with construction starting in 2022. As of this spring, the pipeline is 80% complete, with production scheduled to begin in July and the first oil exports expected in October.
An independent review of EACOP by the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment noted that wetland and river crossings are the most ecologically critical construction phase for the pipeline. Once completed, damage to connected river basins, wetlands, and Ramsar sites would be nearly irreversible.
New spatial analysis reveals that EACOP and its feeder lines cross 158 wetlands, overlap 44 protected areas, and cut through 7 key biodiversity areas in Uganda alone. 84% of the pipeline network intersects with antelope habitats, 67% with monkey habitats, and 22% with leopard habitats. Over the next 25 years, hot crude oil will flow under pressure through this region, with a climate impact equivalent to nearly 380 million tons of CO2.
In the final construction window, two river crossing points warrant attention. The Victoria Nile crossing is located within Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's oldest and largest protected area and its last stronghold for lions. The Tilenga Environmental and Social Impact Report classifies this as a high adverse impact site and warns of flood risks during all project phases. The planned use of horizontal directional drilling at this site poses well-documented risks to the wetland system. An independent advisory review found that wetland crossings "remain one of the most critical activities in pipeline construction." Noise from drilling rig and barge movements alone could cause 25 to 30 years of wildlife disturbance within the park, with local elephants already fleeing due to construction activities.
The Kibale/Bukura River crossing in southern Uganda is another key concern. Satellite imagery from April 2026 confirms that pipeline construction has reached the riverbank, but the crossing has not yet been completed. This river flows into the SAMUKA Ramsar site and eventually into Lake Victoria, which supports over 40 million people. Spatial analysis using data from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species shows that the crossing area overlaps with habitats of one Critically Endangered species, three Endangered species, and two Vulnerable species, including the white-bellied pangolin, giant pangolin, African wild dog, and black rhinoceros.
Financial conditions also offer no guarantees. According to BankTrack data, as of December 2024, project costs have escalated to $5.8 billion, a 66% increase from the initial estimate of $3.5 billion. Most major international banks and the global Big Four reinsurers have withdrawn from the project. A report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found that the rapid adoption of electric vehicles in China is expected to curb global oil demand, potentially reducing the value of Uganda's oil to investors by 34% and to Uganda itself by 54%. The heating system required for the pipeline—to keep waxy crude oil at 80 degrees Celsius to prevent solidification—has not adequately addressed failure risks in impact assessments.
The project also threatens ecosystems and local economies that already generate significant value. The pipeline corridor crosses Lake Albert's fisheries, worth approximately $100 million annually; the SAMUKA Ramsar site provides at least $117 million in ecosystem services each year; tourism revenue from Murchison Falls National Park is estimated at around $2 million annually; and the total economic value of Tanzania's mangroves is estimated at $2.1 billion per year. Since construction began, eight out of ten affected areas have reported destructive flooding, water and noise pollution, unauthorized dumping of excavated soil, and loss of livelihood gardens. Over 100,000 people in Uganda and Tanzania face permanent land loss related to EACOP, and an independent report found that displaced individuals have received inadequate resettlement or compensation.
Studies on the impact of pipelines on wetlands in other parts of the world show that even with best practices, damage persists for years or even decades. One study found measurable impacts eight years after pipeline construction. Another study documented persistent water pollution from erosion and sedimentation caused by construction. For every barrel of oil produced, three barrels of wastewater are generated, a ratio that could triple as the oil field ages. The unfinished river crossing points represent the final junctures where independent oversight and a halt could prevent damage that, according to the project's own assessments, would be irreversible.
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