Ugandan Farmers Sue in UK Court to Block Near-Completed $5B EACOP Pipeline

A group of Ugandan farmers filed a case in the UK High Court on Tuesday seeking to halt the nearly completed $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), according to a report from OilPrice.com. The lawsuit, targeting developer EACOP Ltd., underscores the persistent legal and environmental challenges facing major pipeline projects worldwide, a context Bakken operators monitor closely.

The 1,443-kilometer pipeline, led by French supermajor TotalEnergies, is designed to transport crude from Uganda’s Albertine Graben to the port of Tanga in Tanzania. According to OilPrice.com, the pipeline could be completed as soon as this month, with first shipments expected late this year or in early 2027. It is designed to carry up to 246,000 barrels per day, enabling Uganda's first oil exports from the Tilenga and Kingfisher fields.

The plaintiffs, represented by law firm Leigh Day, contend the pipeline and associated oil production would harm local water resources, wildlife, and biodiversity. Their petition, cited by Bloomberg, seeks an injunction to stop oil transportation and compensation under Ugandan law. The farmers hope a successful lawsuit could stop the pipeline from becoming operational, with remedies that "could go to the heart of the project’s commercial viability," OilPrice.com reported.

For Bakken operators and North Dakota's energy sector, the case is a high-profile example of the legal and environmental scrutiny that can delay or threaten critical midstream infrastructure. While the EACOP project is geographically distant, similar legal strategies based on environmental impact have been employed against pipeline projects in the United States. The case highlights the operational and financial risks for developers when projects face last-minute judicial challenges, even after years of construction and investment.

Supporters of EACOP argue the project is transformative for East Africa, promising job creation, infrastructure investment, and enhanced regional energy security. The pipeline's capacity of 216,000 barrels per day, ramping up to 246,000 bpd, is intended to handle peak production from the Albertine Rift Basin, which is expected to reach around 200,000 bpd. The outcome of this UK court case will be watched by the international energy industry as a test of legal leverage against near-finished projects.