Lake Kivu in the DRC
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
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls
28 April 2026
Datacentres will guzzle power at a ferocious rate, but the impact on wider energy markets will be far more complex than previously thought
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
