Africa Sees Surge in Oil & Gas Pipeline Commissioning, While Aging Middle East Networks Drive Rehabilitation Demand

Since 2026, the global pipeline engineering services market has been shaped by two major trends: Africa's newly built pipelines entering the pre-commissioning stage, and the Middle East's aging networks undergoing a large-scale rehabilitation and renewal cycle.

In Africa, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) completed mainline welding in early July, before moving on to hydrostatic testing and nitrogen drying. The pipeline stretches 1,443 kilometers across Uganda and Tanzania, with exceptionally high technical requirements for pigging, pressure testing, drying, and other associated procedures. Furthermore, Nigeria, Mozambique, and other countries are accelerating the integrity verification and commissioning of natural gas gathering and transmission pipeline networks.

In the Middle East, Saudi Aramco and ADNOC have recently rolled out comprehensive rehabilitation programs for aging oil and water pipelines, covering pigging, internal lining repair, and anti-corrosion coating replacement. Countries including Kuwait and Qatar have prioritized trenchless rehabilitation of aging pipelines as key annual projects to extend service life at low cost and high efficiency while mitigating operational risks.

Demand for pipeline services across Africa and the Middle East is set to surge over the next three to five years. Companies with internationally recognized qualifications and overseas project experience will gain a stronger competitive edge. For Chinese service providers specializing in pipeline pigging, rehabilitation, and pressure testing, the period presents a vital opportunity to expand overseas presence and build brand recognition.