Alur Kingdom Premier: Uganda’s oil will be a game changer

Highlights

• Cultural leaders from the Alur Kingdom had a familiarization tour of oil and gas project operations in the Lake Albert Basin, noting that the developments are on course
• The tour aimed at bringing the cultural leaders up to speed with the progress of the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil and gas development projects

By Felix

The Deputy Prime Minister of Alur Kingdom, Vincent Ochaya, has said Uganda’s oil exploration will be a game changer to the economy.

Speaking during a tour to the oil sites in Tilenga and Kingfisher, Ochaya said the familiarization tour enabled them to confirm several things like the readiness of oil production pads, storage of drilled crude oil and payment of royalties after commercial revenues start flowing.

He said the contribution oil and gas will make to Uganda’s economic development, and progress on construction of Kabalega International Airport, would be important to Ugandans.

From what we saw and experienced, the oil and gas sector in Uganda is looking good and a possible game changer in the socio-economic transformation of Uganda.

He implored the government to consider the development of infrastructure like oil roads and other facilities in the Alur Kingdom side of the Albertine region.

The oil outlook

Approximately 1.4 billion of Uganda’s 6.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, located mostly on its western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are estimated to be economically recoverable.  French firm TotalEnergies, and CNOOC, hold licenses to develop these resources.

The familiarization tour, organized by Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) for Alur Kingdom as a key cultural stakeholder, took place from 6^th to 8^th December in both Tilenga and Kingfisher petroleum development areas.

The Deputy Prime Minister led the delegation, which comprised five chiefs from Jonam in Pakwach district and two chiefs from Padyere in Nebbi district, as well as the kingdom’s cabinet ministers and other officials.

Already, the international oil companies are gradually looking for service subcontractors including engineers, housing construction, road infrastructure design and construction, environmental hazard controls, and vocational training services.