Cnooc to start drilling in Uganda

Kampala is bullish about the country’s upstream future

Uganda may be able start producing oil from its Lake Albert developments ahead of schedule. Chinese state-controlled Cnooc will start drilling for oil on the Kingfisher field in February. Cnooc’s drilling “will enable Uganda to pump out 40,000bl/d in 2024, ahead of the June 2025 deadline the country set for first oil commercial production”, state-owned Uganda National Oil Company (Unoc) says. The Chinese firm erected the rig at Buhuka Flat last November. Cnooc (with 28.33pc) is partnered with Unoc (15pc) and French major TotalEnergies (56.67pc) in the Lake Albert development, which will send oil along the planned East Africa Crude Pipeline (Eacop) for export via the Tanzanian port of Tanga.