The government of Uganda announced positive progress towards its goal of commercial oil production. Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister for Energy and Mineral Development reported that country has successfully drilled 74 oil wells across its two primary production areas, Tilenga and Kingfisher, located in the western and northern regions.
This development is part of Uganda’s broader strategy to harness its substantial oil reserves, estimated at 6.5 billion barrels, with 1.4 billion barrels deemed commercially viable. Out of the 426 planned wells for the Tilenga project, 63 have already been drilled, with all three rigs designated for drilling currently operational.
The drilling activities are focused on six of the 31 well pads that will eventually host all the producer and injector wells. The Tilenga Industrial Area, which is pivotal for the oil processing and support operations, is nearly complete, with a 99.7% completion rate.
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Oil industry
At the Kingfisher oil field, managed by CNOOC Uganda Limited, nine of the 11 wells needed for initial production have been drilled. The development at Kingfisher includes a central processing facility capable of handling 40,000 barrels of oil per day and the drilling of 31 wells across four well pads.
These advancements are part of Uganda’s larger oil infrastructure projects, which include the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the Uganda Refinery Project. The EACOP, a 1,443 km pipeline stretching from Hoima District in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania, is a key component of the plan, with civil works already underway.
These developments mark significant milestones in Uganda’s journey to becoming a notable oil producer in East Africa, with the involvement of major international partners like TotalEnergies, CNOOC, and the Uganda National Oil Company playing a crucial role in the country’s oil sector.
