Minister of State For Energy, Okaasai Sidronius Opolot ,has said that the government of Uganda in line with the law has opened new areas for petroleum exploration activities and is now seeking views from various stakeholders before a declaration is made to open them up for petroleum activities.
The three areas are; Moroto-Kadam basin, Lake Kyoga basin and Hoima basin. “I call upon the public to access and study the Impact Assessment reports for the Moroto-Kadam, Lake Kyoga and Hoima basins and send us informed views within the statutory ninety days after the public announcement”. Okasai said.
The public views are to be channelled to the office of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development for consideration before any field activities commence .
The public announcement will eventually bring in new exploration-investments for the betterment of the country.
The minister said as a country we should feel proud of this milestone since possible additional petroleum resources as a result of further exploration will result into massive benefits among which is sustainability of production and economic benefits to the country.
“We should feel proud of this milestone since possible additional petroleum resources as a result of further exploration will result into massive benefits” Okasai said.
Okasai further applauded the president for the great support he has rendered towards the development of the country’s natural resources most especially oil and gas.
The development of our natural resources is intended to increase our revenues and therefore economic development of the country, the Minister stated .
“Special thanks to the President HE. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who over the years has strongly supported the development of the country’s natural resources and more specifically oil and gas”.
The government is putting in place all the required infrastructure necessary for oil and gas production come 2026 and the global outlook and drive are to fight climatic negative effects by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions, and reach net zero carbon emissions.
However, due to increase of uses of the petroleum transportation fuels, fuel oils for heating and electricity generation, asphalt and road oil, and feedstocks for making the chemical, plastics, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals explosives and synthetic materials, petroleum resources may therefore, not lose value in the face of the energy transition and climatic change considerations in the next 50 or more years.
The Permanent Secretary, Ms. Irene Bateebe in her speech delivered by Mr. Simon Mugisha gave a background to the development of Uganda ‘s oil and gas sector and stated that the government through the ministry of energy and mineral development issued nine petroleum production licenses to the international oil companies operating in the Albertine.
“Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development issued nine petroleum production licenses to the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the Albertine Graben in 2012 and 2016 so as to produce the discovered oil and gas resources. Therefore, to facilitate the development and later production of the discovered oil and gas reserves, government and the international oil companies in 2014 entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in order to commercialise the discovered resources.”
Enhancement of national content through the participation of more Ugandans in the oil and gas sector , it is expected that more Ugandans will be engaged through employment and provision of goods and services during the exploration activities.
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