French energy giant TotalEnergies has concluded a deal with China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering (CPP) and East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline operator EACOP to build the controversial pipeline in Africa.

Under the deal signed late last week, pipeline contractor CPP — owned by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNOOC) — will carry out engineering, procurement and construction for the 1443-kilometre pipeline, which will transport up to 216,000 barrels per day of oil from the Tilenga and Kingfisher fields in Uganda to Tanga on Tanzania’s coast.