Uganda's Oil Projects on Track for First Oil, Officials Report

Uganda's Chief Justice Flavian Zeija and Bank of Uganda Governor Michael Atingi-Ego have voiced satisfaction with the advancement of the nation's oil and gas projects in the Albertine region. Updates indicate that key infrastructure development is nearing completion, keeping the goal of producing first oil before the year's end on track.

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We should have been at 94 percent by now, but conflicts in the Middle East affected the delivery of some cargo that was coming through Dubai, and also delayed the movement of some of our experts. More recently, the Ebola outbreak led to travel restrictions in some countries. Now that Uganda is Ebola-free, we expect work to progress smoothly, and we are committed to meeting the government's first oil target.

The two officials led a delegation, including representatives from the Judiciary, the Bank of Uganda, and the Uganda Revenue Authority, on an inspection tour of critical oil and gas facilities. Their objective was to assess the progress of government investments and evaluate the projects' value for money. The tour covered several strategic sites, including Pump Station One and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

At the EACOP site, Deputy Managing Director John Bosco Habumugisha reported that pipeline construction is 91 percent complete, and Pump Station One is 83 percent finished. He attributed some delays to Middle East conflicts affecting cargo delivery and expert movement, as well as recent Ebola-related travel restrictions. However, with Uganda now Ebola-free, smooth progress is expected to meet the government's first oil target.

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The biggest delay was the control tower, but construction is now underway and we expect it to be completed within two weeks. By the end of August, the airport should be ready for commissioning. We are also preparing to begin construction of the passenger terminal, which was introduced following Uganda's hosting commitments for AFCON. That component is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

Inspections also included Kabalega International Airport, where construction is 98 percent complete. Officials noted that the control tower, a major component, is nearing completion, with the airport expected to be ready for commissioning by the end of August. A passenger terminal is also under construction for the AFCON hosting commitments, scheduled for completion by mid-next year. At the Kingfisher oil field, CNOOC Vice President Wang Jufeng confirmed the project is 95 percent complete and entering the commissioning phase, assuring that everything is on schedule.

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We want to assure the country that everything is on schedule and we are ready.