The Norwegian oil expert Hans Peter Christopher has urged the government of Uganda to utilise oil and gas resources in the same way his country does to benefit masses.
Mr. Christopher was on Friday speaking during the workshop for Members of Parliament on the developments of oil and gas organised by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) at Lake Victoria Serena Resort & Spa-Kigo. The two-day workshop was organised to update the MPs on the development in the oil and gas sector.
He said Norway has 10 oil commandments that Uganda can consider for the proper management of oil resources.
Addressing members the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Robert Kasande said the reason of the workshop was to share information, feedback and solicit for support in the journey for first oil expected around 2022.
Kasande gave an overview on the Oil and Gas sector focusing on the present and forward. He said the constitution of Uganda vets ownership of Oil and Gas resources in the government on behalf of the Republic of Uganda.
He said the role of Parliament is critical in ensuring the right legislation is in place to develop the oil and gas sector. He said his ministry was learning from other African oil producers to avoid mistakes that could derail the sector especially as regards to oil revenue.
The MPs questioned energy officials on security, land issues, crude oil so far extracted for testing, the oil curse, among other concerns.
In mid-December 2018, the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija and the Norwegian Ambassador to Uganda, Susan Eckey, signed the Oil for Development Programme Agreement, with the ambition of further strengthening the management of the oil and gas sector in Uganda.
The Oil for Development Programme is designed to assist developing countries to manage their petroleum resources in a sustainable manner and to target poverty reduction through managing petroleum responsibly, both economically, environmentally, and socially. Norway and Uganda have been committed to this programme since 2009.
This signing marks the programme’s third phase, running from 2018 to 2022, but Norway has assisted Uganda in developing its petroleum sector since the 1980’s. The Oil for Development Programme remains a key priority of Norway’s engagement with Uganda, as part of our strategic goals of promoting sustainable management of natural resources and good governance.
Norway cooperates with several other countries in an Oil for Development programme, such as Ghana, Angola, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Kenya.
60,000 barrels of Oil per-day refinery is to be developed and the project includes 213 kilometres pipeline from the refinery site to a terminal in Kampala. Uganda has about 6.5 billion barrels of oil with about 2.2 barrels recoverable.