TANGA: THE East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd, in collaboration with its joint venture and institutional partners, has successfully graduated the first cohort of its Orbital Specialist Training Programme, marking a significant milestone in Tanzania’s efforts to build a highly skilled local workforce for the oil and gas sector.
The initiative is expected to reduce Tanzania’s dependence on imported specialised technical labour by building a pool of locally trained experts capable of supporting major infrastructure and energy projects. In a double ceremony held yesterday, 15 Tanzanian trainees received internationally recognised certifications, while a second cohort of trainees was officially launched.
The pioneering trainees were selected from government and private technical institutions across the country, including the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA), Don Bosco Technical Institutes, Arusha Technical College (ATC) and the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), reflecting a commitment to national inclusivity in advanced technical skills development.
The independent assessment and certification process was conducted by the Welding Federation (TWF), a reputable pan-African and international organisation operating in more than 54 countries. The certifications are globally recognised and affirm the graduates’ competence in orbital welding technologies.
The programme is sponsored by EACOP Ltd, Panyu Chu Kong Steel Pipe (Zhuhai) Co, Ltd. (PCK) and VETA. It is implemented by SESDCORP Tanzania Limited in collaboration with the Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI) and TWF.
The event was attended by senior government officials, including the Guest of Honour, VETA Director of Planning Angalius Ngonyani, who represented the Director General of VETA, Anthony Kasore. Representatives from the Ministry of Energy, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) also attended.
Speaking during the ceremony, Mr Ngonyani said Tanzania must continue investing in highly specialised technical skills to support sustainable industrial growth.
“By equipping our youth with worldclass automated technologies such as orbital welding, we are setting standards that mirror successful industrial economies. This collaboration between public institutions and private sector partners ensures that our workforce remains competitive globally,” he said.
EACOP Tanzania General Manager Mr Geofrey Mponda congratulated the graduates and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to local content development.
“This milestone demonstrates the value of strategic partnerships. EACOP remains committed to working closely with stakeholders to implement strong local content programmes that ensure the benefits of major projects contribute directly to national socio-economic development,” he stressed.
EACOP Head of Local Content Ms Neema Kweka said the programme would create lasting benefits beyond the construction phase of the pipeline.
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“We firmly believe this initiative will empower Tanzanian youth to access future technical employment opportunities while supporting government efforts to increase local participation in strategic national projects,” she noted.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Ms Lisa John from DIT thanked EACOP and its partners for providing the specialised training opportunity.
“This programme has equipped us with skills that will help us pursue highvalue opportunities in the energy sector while contributing to the growth of Tanzania’s industrial and technical capacity,” she stated.
Training Programme Coordinator Killian Nango described the graduation as a major achievement in advancing local content objectives.
“By equipping young Tanzanians with internationally certified orbital welding skills, we are ensuring that the workforce supporting this historic project meets global engineering standards. With Cohort Two already underway, we are maintaining momentum in developing local talent,” he said.