In an optimistic and forward-looking address on Thursday morning at NBS TV, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Ramathan Ggoobi reassured Ugandans about the country’s oil future, emphasizing that the timeline for Uganda’s first oil production remains on track despite previous doubts and uncertainties.
Addressing past predictions, the Ggoobi stated, “You had promised, oh, the Ministry of Energy had promised 2025.” However, he clarified that the situation has evolved, and the nation’s oil ambitions are progressing smoothly. He pointed out the significant progress made on the oil pipeline, an integral part of the oil extraction and exportation process.
“We are now laying about 780 kilometers of the pipeline, basically from Tanzania, coming this way,” he said. “The projections are that by the end of this calendar year, we shall have almost laid the entire length, and with that, the final few things to be done, and the oil is bumped out.”
The Permanent Secretary made a special effort to allay any lingering doubts among Ugandans regarding the country’s oil ambitions. “I would want to say, if any Ugandan has any doubt in their mind, they should go and visit the oil belt there and see what’s happening,” he urged. This invitation is a call to the public to witness firsthand the ongoing developments in the oil sector, reinforcing the tangible progress being made.
Looking ahead, the Ggoobi shared an exciting update about the oil refinery project, which is set to become a cornerstone of Uganda’s oil economy. “We are soon announcing the FDI for the refinery,” he revealed, adding that it marks a critical step forward in establishing a national oil-processing facility. “60,000 barrels of oil are going to be refined into five products every day,” he confirmed. This refinery will not only supply local demand but will also enable Uganda to enter the international oil market as an oil exporter.
In addition to the refinery, the Ggoobi highlighted efforts to improve Uganda’s fuel transport infrastructure. “We are building a pipeline to take fuel products off our roads,” he stated, referencing a long-term solution to the country’s transport congestion. He particularly noted the hazardous situation created by the constant movement of tankers along narrow and dangerous roads, especially in the Jinja area. “All those tankers you see on the very, very dangerous, congested, narrow road of Jinja, they are going to go off in the near future,” he emphasized.
He also discussed plans for an ambitious pipeline to link Uganda to neighboring Kenya, further expanding Uganda’s regional oil infrastructure. “We are in the advanced stages of getting a pipeline to connect us to Eldoret, from here to Kenya,” he explained. This pipeline will enhance fuel transport safety and efficiency, reduce road congestion, and further cement Uganda’s role as a key player in East Africa’s oil industry.
With the completion of the pipeline and refinery and the development of efficient fuel transport systems, Uganda is poised to become not only a major oil producer but also a key exporter in the region.
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