CPP: Safeguarding East Africa's natural landscape

In the early morning of April 22, a light mist hung over central-western Tanzania. Along the LOT2 section of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project — built by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPP) — birds chirped amid lush vegetation. Throughout construction, CPP has prioritized ecological protection, integrating green principles into every stage of the project.

The LOT2 section runs through central-western Tanzania, crossing wetlands, grasslands, hills and farming areas. This ecologically diverse stretch is a vital local wildlife corridor and is home to more than 400 bird species and 100 mammal species — making conservation a challenging task. Adhering to the principle of "minimal disturbance, rapid recovery and scientific revegetation", CPP has made every effort to safeguard the local natural landscape.

To maximize protection of the native soil structure, CPP has strictly implemented topsoil stripping and layered backfilling. To address the local rainy climate, it has installed 120 kilometers of wet-season protection facilities to prevent soil erosion. By scientifically optimizing the construction route and work plan, CPP has fully avoided wildlife migration corridors, ensuring uninterrupted animal movement.

CPP has also followed a native-first revegetation approach, planting native grasses and shrubs suited to the local climate and soil. To date, 150,000 seedlings have been planted, achieving a survival rate of up to 98%. At the same time, a robust ecological monitoring and acceptance mechanism ensures that revegetation keeps pace with construction. In addition, CPP operates a round-the-clock camp sewage treatment system, treating approximately 260,000 cubic meters of wastewater annually — ensuring full collection, full treatment and compliant discharge of all domestic sewage.

CPP's green construction practices have earned wide recognition and praise from local residents. Along the pipeline route, residents have expressed their gratitude in Swahili: "Tunashukuru CPP kwa kulinda mazingira yetu" (Thank you, CPP, for protecting our homeland).