DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), constructed by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPP), has achieved a significant milestone on Friday, with the total length of the welded pipeline surpassing 1,000 km.

Stretching 1,539 km from Hoima District in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania, the EACOP project is the world's longest heated crude oil pipeline currently under construction, according to the CPP.

Once operational, it will serve as a strategic route for exporting Ugandan crude oil to the Indian Ocean, unlocking regional resource potential and injecting fresh momentum into East Africa's economic and social development.

Advanced techniques, such as fully automated welding and digitalized management systems, have enhanced operational efficiency and quality, forging a robust energy corridor through the heart of Africa, said the CPP. As a result, welding operations have gained substantial momentum. ■