TOTALENERGIES is set within weeks to award at least two critical line pipe supply contracts worth at least $300 million for its East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), the only major bid process yet to be concluded on this huge infrastructure project running through Uganda and Tanzania. Originally, one preferred bidder was set to win this prestigious contract but it is understood that, for a number of reasons, the French supermajor has for some months been giving serious consideration to splitting the work-scope into as many as three separate orders. Prompt delivery of the line pipe will be critical in maintaining the EACOP schedule and to ensure first oil can flow through the $3.5 billion, 216,000 barrels per day pipeline from Uganda's Tilenga and Kingfisher fields in the first half of 2025. Upstream was told there is a serious risk of delays to line pipe deliveries due to ongoing bottlenecks in global supply chains, while steel prices have also created challenges.
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