Nairobi, Jan. 15 -- Developers of the pipeline that will transport crude from oilfields in Western Uganda to the Tanzania's port of Tanga for export are jittery as they negotiate the final push to complete a rigorous process that Chinese lenders set before they decide whether to bankroll the project.

Industry sources, however, say the lenders remain at least six months away from making the final decision, as they assess potential blowback if they agree to finance the project that has attracted local and international criticism as a business risk.

With $2 billion raised by shareholders of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop), the project seeks close to $3 billion to cover debt financing, expected to come from China Export & Credit...