By Biiso fm Reporter
Kikuube District –
The journey towards Uganda’s long-awaited first oil has taken a significant step forward after CNOOC Uganda Limited confirmed the successful drilling of 15 wells at the Kingfisher oil project.
According to geologist Dennis Mulondo, the project will have a total of 31 wells on four pads, including 20 producers and 11 water injectors. He explained that the injectors will pump water underground to push oil towards the producer wells, increasing output.
Mulondo noted that oil from the wells will be processed at the Central Processing Facility (CPF), where sand, water, and gas will be separated before crude oil is pumped through an eight-kilometre pipeline to Kabaale.
However, he stressed that actual production cannot begin until the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the planned refinery are completed.
“The wells are sufficient for first oil, but without transport and refining infrastructure, production cannot start,” Mulondo said.
Ernest Rubondo, Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, hailed the milestone, noting that 17 wells are required to commence production. “With 15 already drilled, you can see how close we are,” he said.
On the export side, John Bosco Habumugisha, EACOP’s Deputy Managing Director, said the 1,443-kilometre pipeline is progressing well and is expected to be completed in the second half of next year.
Meanwhile, Derrick Jonathan Mbabazi, National Content Manager for the EPC III Project, revealed that more than 2,000 Ugandans, including 500 from host communities, have been employed and trained in trades such as welding and scaffolding.
With this progress, Uganda is edging closer to producing its first oil, nearly two decades after commercial discoveries were first confirmed in 2006.
