“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 Wednesday, 25 October 2023.
According to Nankabirwa, government has already drilled a total of 11 oil wells; eight in the Tilenga and three in the Kingfisher area, with capacity to produce up to 190,000 barrels and 40,000 barrels of oil per day respectively. In total, the production 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.
As far as oil exploration is concerned, Nankabirwa said that the Ministry is increasing its resource base by giving more licences to companies.
“We issued exploration licences to Armour Energy Ltd over the Kanyawataba area, Oranto Petroleum Ltd over the Ngassa Shallow and deep in 2017, and more recently to UNOC over the Kasurubani block and DGR Global over the Turaco block,” she said.
She 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.