Africa-Press – Uganda. Progress in drilling is notable, especially at the Kingfisher oil project, where 12 of the 31 planned wells have already been drilled.
Uganda is making significant strides toward its first commercial oil production, although recent developments suggest the timeline will be extended from 2025 to 2026.
Officials in the Hoima region, where much of the oil activity is taking place, report that negotiations for the refinery are ongoing, and construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is progressing, with pipes being strung and welded in preparation for the maiden oil production.
While construction of the Central Processing Facilities (CPF) and other essential components for the Kingfisher and Tilenga oil projects are still underway, Uganda is gearing up for its first oil production.
However, it remains uncertain if the initial target will be met.
“Our target is June 2025, but we will need to wait for the EACOP pipeline to be ready to transport the oil to Tanga,” explained Joseph Omaswa, Communications Engineer at CNOOC.
Progress in drilling is notable, especially at the Kingfisher oil project, where 12 of the 31 planned wells have already been drilled.
However, the Tilenga project is further behind, with only 76 of the 400 wells drilled so far.
Anita Kayongo, Corporate Affairs Manager at TotalEnergies, mentioned the use of new technology, including silent rigs, to minimize noise pollution that could harm the environment and biodiversity.
Anita Komugisha, JNR Engineer at CNOOC, noted that the drilling rig at the Kingfisher development is an 8,000-meter long rig, capable of drilling up to 8 kilometers into the ground.
Gloria Sebikari, Manager of Corporate Affairs at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, clarified that not all of the wells need to be drilled before the first oil production.
Drilling will continue even after commercial production begins.
Uganda has adopted a two-pronged approach for its oil industry: exporting crude oil and refining some of it locally.
A planned refinery in Kabaale Parish, Buseruka Subcounty, Hoima District, is set to process 60,000 barrels per day.
According to Robert Mukondo, UNOC’s Social Development Specialist, the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) have been completed. Work on the refinery will begin after a few remaining agreements are finalized.
The EACOP pipeline spans 296 kilometers in Uganda, with the remainder of the 1,447 kilometers running through Tanzania. The pipeline will transport Uganda’s crude oil from Hoima to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.
Drilling is also ongoing in several locations, including the Kingfisher area managed by CNOOC in Buhuka Parish, Kyangwali Subcounty, Kikuube District, and the Tilenga project, managed by TotalEnergies in Buliisa District.
The successful achievement of Uganda’s first oil production milestone will depend on the readiness of various key projects in both the upstream and downstream sectors, including the Kingfisher and Tilenga oil developments, the refinery, and the EACOP.
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