AfrOil: Ugandan MPs approve EACOP Special Provisions Bill 2021

Uganda moved one step closer towards launching commercial hydrocarbon production last week, when members of Parliament approved a bill designed to facilitate the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

Legislators debated all sections of the draft law, known as the EACOP Special Provisions Bill 2021, on December 8. They then scheduled the vote for December 9 after reaching agreement on alls clause. Now that the vote has taken place, Parliament can send the bill to President Yoweri Museveni for signature.

As of press time, Museveni had not said when he expected to finalise the legislation.

The EACOP Special Provisions Bill 2021 aims to enable and operationalise certain provisions of the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) signed between Uganda and Tanzania earlier this year, as well as the Host Government Agreement (HGA) between Uganda and the EACOP group.

It will fill gaps in Uganda’s existing legal regime and support Kampala’s plan to keep EACOP’s transport tariffs remain fixed over the lifespan of the project.