By Joseph Kiggundu
Total Energies Exploration and Production has introduced four working shifts at the Tilenga oil project in Buliisa District as Uganda pushes to achieve first oil before the end of this year.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development says the accelerated work schedule is intended to help the project meet the government’s target, with overall construction now at 72% and the Central Processing Facility, a critical component for first oil, at 68%.
A senior management team from the ministry recently inspected the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects to assess progress and their readiness for commercial production.
At the Kingfisher project in Kikuube District, operated by CNOOC Uganda, 22 of the planned 31 oil wells have been drilled, exceeding the 17 wells initially targeted at this stage.
The Kingfisher Central Processing Facility is 99% complete, while the feeder pipeline connecting the project to Pump Station One in Kabaale Sub-county, Hoima District, has been completed.
Overall, the Kingfisher project is now 95% complete.
Ronald Kaija, CNOOC senior community development programme officer, said the project was progressing well but called for improved communication and information sharing about the oil sector.
“For us as CNOOC, we are progressing well. We only appeal to the ministry to work on the issue of information sharing. There is a lot of negativity about the sector, but we are ready to deliver to the government expectations,” Kaija said.
Geoffrey Ogwang, the commissioner in the Midstream Petroleum Department at the Ministry of Energy, said the team was impressed by the progress at Kingfisher and considered the project ready for first oil.
“The senior management team at the ministry decided to come and see for themselves. They are indeed impressed with the progress, and as a ministry we are committed to ensure we get first oil before the end of this year,” Ogwang said.
At Tilenga, TotalEnergies told the ministry team that overall project progress stands at 72%.
Although the overall figure is below the targeted level, 230 of the planned 420 oil wells have already been drilled, exceeding the 170 wells considered necessary for first oil.
The Central Processing Facility, however, stands at 68%, making it one of the areas requiring accelerated work.
Christopher Ochowum, the public relations officer for TotalEnergies, said the company remains committed to meeting the government’s deadline despite the overall project progress being below target.
“We have a very dedicated team on ground. We understand the government target and that is what we are working to ensure we achieve. The overall 72% seems low, but the critical sectors are meeting the target. Most of them we are getting to the pre-commissioning and commissioning stage,” Ochowum said.
Wilson Mbile Tumushabe, the acting assistant commissioner for Development and Production at the Ministry of Energy, confirmed that TotalEnergies has adopted four working shifts to accelerate construction and commissioning.
“Total is aware of the country’s target, first oil this year, that is why they have now four working shifts, and we are certain as their supervisors that we will hit the target,” Tumushabe said.
Tumushabe said achieving first oil would be important to Uganda’s plans to use its petroleum resources to support economic development.
“Once we get our natural resource out of the ground, we will be able to use it to develop our economy. That is why the president is saying we must achieve this target. Which sector will get Uganda to become self-reliant and fund most of the critical sectors which will drive development of the country?” he said.
Other infrastructure supporting the oil project is also nearing completion.
Kabalega International Airport is reported to be 98% complete, with installation of the control tower expected by the end of August, marking the completion of the first phase.
Pump Station One in Kabaale Sub-county, Hoima District, is 85% complete, while the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, which will transport Uganda’s crude to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, is 91% complete.
The government says continued supervision and accelerated work on the remaining critical components will be key to achieving Uganda’s first commercial oil production before the end of 2026.