Petroleum Africa
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Thursday, October 26, 2023
Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, has told Parliament that the country is on track to ensure that the first drop of oil is produced by the end of 2025.
“Government and its partners are working tirelessly, and I am happy to report that we are on track to have first oil by the end of 2025,” Nankabirwa said, while presenting a statement on the status of oil and gas projects in the country, to Parliament on October 25.
According to Nankabirwa, a total of 11 oil wells have been drilled; eight in the Tilenga and three in the Kingfisher area, with a capacity to produce up to 190,000 barrels and 40,000 barrels of oil per day respectively. In total, production from the sites will require a total of 457 wells and 35 well pads.
The development and production wells at the Kingfisher field in Kikuube district was launched in January 2023 by President Yoweri Museveni, while those at the Tilenga Project located in the Albertine Graben within the Buliisa and Nwoya districts commenced in June 2023.
“Construction of the Central Processing facilities both at Kingfisher and Tilenga is ongoing and on schedule to be ready by 2025. Tilenga’s capacity Central Processing facility which is under construction is currently 33 percent complete while Kingfisher’s capacity Central Processing facility is at 12 percent,” Nankabirwa said.
As far as oil exploration is concerned, Nankabirwa said that the Ministry is increasing its resource base by giving more licenses to companies including Armour Energy over the Kanyawataba area, Oranto Petroleum over the Ngassa Shallow and deep in 2017, and more recently to UNOC over the Kasurubani block and DGR Global over the Turaco block, according to the Minister.
Nankabirwa added that the Ministry also plans to conclude the formulation of a comprehensive National Petroleum Policy before the end of this Financial Year.
“The new policy will create a conducive environment for faster and efficient exploration, development, production, and commercialization of discovered resources and utilization of petroleum products in the country while acknowledging the energy transition initiatives,” she said, adding that government also has its hands on the deck on the development of 60,000 barrels per day oil refinery in Kabaale, Hoima district.
On the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Nankabirwa said civil works commenced in August 2023, and the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for affected persons within the 10 districts where the EACOP crosses is ongoing.
Commenting to Parliament on previous delays, the minister blamed the deadline shifts to Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations that have been de-campaigning the EACOP project.
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