Government has issued 16 companies with bidding documents for oil exploration.
Nineteen had applied when government put out a request for qualification stage.
According a press release by ministry of energy, the bidding documents comprise of Request for Proposal, Model Production Sharing Agreement 2015 (MPSA), Model Confidentiality Agreement for sale of data, Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) (Data Sale) Regulations 2014 and Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) (Data Sale) (Amendment), Regulations 2015.
Dr. Kabagambe Kalisa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development (MEMD), says the issuance of the bid document marks the commencement of the Request for Proposal stage which entails bidding and competitive process of the licensing round.
He adds that the bidding and competitive process will close on 15th January 2016 with submission of bids.
“Government will evaluate the bids, negotiate with successful bidders, sign Production Sharing Agreements and award exploration, development and production licenses thus marking the end of the licensing round,” explained the Permanent Secretary.
The successful companies are; African Global Resources (JV comprising of Telconet Capital Limited, RT-Global Resources LLC and JSC Tatneft), Russia, Petrica Energy AS, Norway,Energy Limited, Australia,Oranto Petroleum International Limited, NigeriaTullow Uganda Operations Pty Limited, Ireland, Rift Energy Uganda Limited, Canada,African Exploration Venture (JV comprising of Rapid Africa Energy Pty Limited and Africa Energy SA Corp)South Africa.
Others include; Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited, Nigeria, Glint Energy, LLC, USA, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Limited, India, SASOL Exploration and Production International Limited, South Africa, Brightoil Petroleum (Uganda) Limited, Hong Kong/China,Petoil (Uganda) Limited, Turkey, Swala Energy (Uganda) Limited, Australia, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Nigeria,MDC Oil and Gas Holding Company, LLC, United Arab Emirates.
The six biddable blocks comprise of the Ngassa (410 Km2) in Hoima District, Taitai & Karuka (565 Km2) in Buliisa District, Ngaji (895 Km2) in Rukungiri and Kanungu Districts, Mvule (344 Km2) in Moyo and Yumbe Districts together with Turaco (425 Km2) and Kanywantaba (344 Km2) in Ntoroko District.
Uganda discovered commercial quantities of oil in 2006, with the oil in place estimated at 3.5 billion barrels. It’s not clear when production will start as the year has kept being changed.
