The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) says significant progress is being made in the development of the country’s oil sector.
According to the Executive Director of PAU, Dr Ernest Rubondo, the journey towards Uganda’s First Oil has reached a major milestone after CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Company), one of the joint venture partners that runs the Kingfisher development project, confirmed the successful drilling of 15 wells. He said this signals Uganda’s readiness to enter the oil and gas production stage.
Rubondo said: “The Kingfisher project is supposed to have 31 wells, and CNOOC needs 17 wells to start production, and they are moving very well. Currently, they have done 15 wells, which means they are very close to the 17 wells they require to start oil production. This milestone signals Uganda’s readiness to enter the oil production stage. The other wells will be drilled even after production has begun.”
Rubondo said construction works of the Kingfisher central processing facility (CPF) currently stand at 80 percent. He said the CPF will have the capacity to process 40,000 barrels of oil per day during peak production, adding that the feeder pipelines have been laid and the water intake plant has also been built.
The chief executive said the Government had also connected the Kingfisher project to the hydropower grid in order to ensure a stable power supply.
He praised the local communities for supporting the development and cautioned them against misinformation.
The President of CNOOC, Lui Xiangdong, said the construction works of the CPF are steadily progressing and would be ready next year. He said the liquified petroleum gas separation sector has been worked on and the water separators are also being installed, noting that they believe within the shortest time they would complete the works.
The Deputy Managing Director of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Company, John Bosco Habumugisha, said construction of the crude oil pipeline from Kikuube in Uganda to Tanga Port in Tanzania is also progressing well. He said in the second half of 2026, we, as he put it, “should be able to see completion of this project”.
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