The Ugandan government is on track to produce the first drop of oil by the end of 2025, Energy and Mineral Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa told Parliament on Wednesday.
“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, the government has already drilled a total of 11 oil wells; eight in the Tilenga field and three in the Kingfisher field, 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.
“Construction of the Central Processing facilities both at Kingfisher and Tilenga is ongoing and on schedule to be ready by 2025. Tilenga’s capacity Central Processing facility which is under construction is currently 33 percent complete while Kingfisher’s capacity Central Processing facility is at 12 percent,” Nankabirwa said.
On the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Nankabirwa said civil works commenced in August 2023, and the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for affected persons within the 10 districts where the EACOP crosses is ongoing.
Napak District Woman Representative, Faith Nakut sought assurance from the minister that the first oil will be realised by the end of 2025 considering the slow progress of oil well constructions.
“We are required to have 457 wells versus the accomplished 11 wells…The minister should give us assurance because, in my view, that speed is slow,” Nakut said.
Christine Apolot the Kumi Districct also called for consistency in the oil production timelines.
“Originally, about years back, the year Ugandans were given for the first production of oil was 2023. So I want to plead with the minister to be consistent with these messages because the population is not going to believe us,” Apolot said.
Nankabirwa said that the construction of oil wells started this year and by 2025, the number of wells will have been realised.
