The development of the oil and gas resources of the Lake Albert region and the cross-border pipeline is ongoing at the USD 4.5 billion Tilenga Project.
As of today, 400 wells have been drilled in over 31 well pads across 6 fields; JobiRii, Ngiri, Gunya, Kigogole, Nsoga, Kasemene and Wahrindi.
An Industrial area which comprises of; the Central Processing Facility (CPF) operating 24 hours, operators camp, operations support base, a drilling base and drilling camp, cuttings re-injection facilities/liquid mud plant, lake water abstraction system, oil production/water injection and electrical network, Tangi operation support base, have been put in place in strong partnership between the Government of Uganda through UNOC and its development partners, Total Energies, CNOOC Uganda Limited with the Contractor MOTA-ENGIL.
While approaching the base for the Tilenga project, you can’t help but notice the newly created road network in the formerly hard to reach area. The network involves opening new roads and up grading existing roads, which is an outstanding development.
The temporary project components include; construction camps and support bases on both banks of the Nile, quarries/borrow pits including inside Murchison falls national park.
While briefing the journalists about the progress of the oil development in Uganda, Anita Kayongo, the Corporate Communications Manager for Total Energies revealed there are now only 43 months left to get Uganda’s first oil drop.
On several occasions, President Yoweri Museveni has said Uganda’s oil and resource gift will create significant Government revenue for economic growth, human development and employment. According to Eng Charles Wawire, the project employs over 90% Ugandans in its ranks.
Some of these are working at the as construction support, project road network engineers or constructors or at the Wanseko – Kirama piped water supply section among others, according to Gloria Sebikari, the Manager Corporate Affairs and Public Relations, Petroleum Authority of Uganda.
The development of the Tilenga oil project required land acquisition for the establishment of production facilities and support infrastructure like as roads, camps and pipelines resulting in the involuntary displacement of communities. Sebikari says the right procedures were taken and to avoid, mitigate adverse effects, compensate losses, and provide compesation to the Project Affected Persons.
Out of the 622 project affected persons under the RAP 1 (Central Processing Facility and associated infrastructure), 30 people opted for in-kind compensation. On the compensation for permanent residents, Project Affected Persons had the option to choose between cash or in-kind compensation (land for land/house for house).
The oil project is expected to have a spillover effect not just on Uganda but also the rest of East Africa to be at a different level of durable development, by the time the oil is finished.
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