Kinshasa pins hopes on eastern oil export route
Regional mega-project could help overcome infrastructure barrier to Congo development, but hurdles remain
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is in talks with Uganda and Tanzania over securing access to the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) as a potential export route for its significant oil resources. Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga, the DRC’s minister for hydrocarbons, confirmed that negotiations are in progress and suggested that “everyone wins” if his country is able to secure export capacity in the TotalEnergies-led pipeline project. The connection will allow crude to be exported via the Tanzanian port of Tanga and is scheduled to be complete in time for the associated Tilenga and Kingfisher projects—led by TotalEnergies and China’s state-controlled Cnooc respectively, in what together for
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices






