Mr. Ernest N.T. Rubondo, Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), concluded a two-day supervisory field visit to the Tilenga Project, inspecting key operations and infrastructure that are driving Uganda toward its First Oil milestone in July 2026.
Day 1: Operations North of the Nile
On the first day of the tour, Mr. Rubondo visited drilling activities at the Jobi Rii 5, 4, and 10 well pads north of the Nile. He also assessed restoration works at the Horizontal Directional Drilling crossing point, the area where flowlines will transport crude beneath the Nile to the Central Processing Facility (CPF) South of the Nile in Buliisa District.
Total Energies Uganda, operator of the Tilenga Project on behalf of the Joint Venture Partners, briefed the ED that the project has now reached 63% overall progress, with 187 wells already drilled — exceeding the 170 wells required for First Oil. This milestone marks a significant achievement as the project continues toward completion.
Day 2: Industrial Area and Key Installations
The second day focused on inspecting construction works in the Industrial Area, which houses the Central Processing Facility, drilling and construction support bases, a 4,000-man camp, and the Water Abstraction Point — a critical facility for ongoing industrial operations.
Significant progress was observed at the CPF, with oil storage tanks, PIG launchers, water treatment systems, and the central control building already in place. The ED also visited the Kasamene-2 well pad, further reviewing drilling activities.
“All stakeholders are working to ensure that First Oil is achieved as planned,” said Mr. Rubondo, commending the pace of work and alignment of all project activities toward the July 2026 target.
Key Highlights from Mr. Rubondo’s Supervisory Visit
Tilenga Project – Total Energies Uganda
- Overall progress: 63%
- Wells drilled: 187 (exceeding 170 required for First Oil)
- Total wells planned: 420 across 29 well pads
Kingfisher Project – CNOOC Uganda Ltd
- Overall completion: 76%
- Wells drilled: 21 (17 required for First Oil)
- Total wells planned: 31 across 4 well pads
East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)
- Overall progress: 80%
- All 296 km of Ugandan line pipes delivered
- Over 200 km of pipeline welded
The two-day visit underscores Uganda’s solid progress across its oil and gas projects, signaling strong momentum as the country moves closer to its First Oil milestone.