By Dorina G. Makaya & Janeth Mesomapya

Minister of Energy, Hon. January Yusuf Makamba, has directed experts from the Ministry of Energy to collaborate with regional secretariats in the eight (8) regions where the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project will pass to create profile for those regions that will maximize deployment of the available opportunities arising from the project.

Minister Makamba made the remarks today, September 28, 2021 on the second day of the seminar for Regional Commissioners and Regional Administrative Secretaries for the project-beneficiary regions to review and create broader awareness about the project and its available opportunities.

He instructed that the profile should provide complete information on the specific needs of the regions throughout the project implementation period, the preparation required to meet the relevant needs, economic value of the project and analysis of opportunities available in the regions respectively depending on their geography.

"Once the information is obtained, there should be capacity building to the residents of these regions, hence enable them to work and benefit from those opportunities, the accurate information on these opportunities will help them to have realistic expectations" he added.

He also urged the project facilitators to ensure that the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) aims to benefit the communities around the project so that the benefits are long-lasting even after its completion.

Speaking of local suppliers and service provider database run by the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), Minister Makamba insisted that adequate awareness be provided to the public on how to register on the database, so that more suppliers and service providers can be part of the platform.

The Deputy Minister of Energy, Advocate Stephen Byabato explained that in order for the opportunities of this project to primarily benefit communities surrounding the project, the government is developing strategies to ensure those opportunities remain within the respective regions and benefit its people.

"We will also go to the relevant regions to explain to the people the opportunities available in their respective regions, so that they can prepare to seize them," he added.