The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) is actively seeking a joint venture partner to support the exploration and potential development of the Kasuruban oil block in the country’s western region, according to a statement by company spokesperson Angella Ambaho.
UNOC, a state-owned entity, acquired the 1,285-square-kilometre Kasuruban block in 2023 after signing a production sharing agreement (PSA) with the Ugandan government. The initial term of the PSA was two years, with provisions for two subsequent renewals of the same duration. The agreement was renewed in March this year, extending UNOC’s rights over the block.
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Kasuruban oil block
Ambaho noted that the company has already acquired geological and geophysical data and plans to undertake further data acquisition and drill at least one exploration well over the next two years. However, she did not disclose how much equity UNOC is willing to offer to a potential joint venture partner.
UNOC plays a central role in Uganda’s emerging oil sector, holding a 15% stake in the Tilenga and Kingfisher production licenses operated by TotalEnergies and CNOOC respectively. It also holds a 15% interest in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project and a 40% stake in Uganda’s planned oil refinery.
Uganda is targeting first oil production in 2026, marking a significant milestone in its ambitions to become a regional oil producer. The US $5bn EACOP, a 1,443-kilometre pipeline stretching from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, is expected to transport up to 246,000 barrels of crude per day for export.
The pipeline is a joint venture between TotalEnergies (62%), UNOC (15%), Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (15%), and CNOOC (8%). The project secured its first tranche of external financing earlier this year.
UNOC’s search for a joint venture partner in the Kasuruban block underscores the company’s strategy to leverage international expertise and investment to accelerate Uganda’s oil exploration and production ambitions
