Tamoil is understood to have won the award despite stiff competition from MISA-Madhvani International South Africa/Shell Uganda and China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corporation in the final stages of tendering Tamoil East Africa belongs to the Tamoil Group, whose holding company, Oilinvest (Netherlands) BV is a major player in the oil industry. Since its incorporation, the group has developed both its refining and marketing activities in Europe and has now moved into Africa. Tamoil has operations Switzerland, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, and France with operations in North Africa and East Africa as well. The main reason for the pipeline extension project is to ease the transportation of oil from Kenya to landlocked Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, and to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The pipeline will play a major role in reducing road wear from the current stream of oil tankers, as reducing the risks associated with road transport and stabilising fuel supplies in Uganda. The project was supposed to begin in 2004 but has delayed, according to some observers because national interests have clouded what should essentially have been business decisions. The Kenya Pipeline Co (KPC) has been providing technical expertise to the Kenya and Uganda governments on the project's implementation, and will take up a 24.5% share in the 8-in diameter pipe.