Construction of oil facilities in Albertine Grabben at 30 percent
KIKUUBE-The construction of different infrastructural facilities in the Albertine Grabben to be used in the production of Uganda’s first oil by 2025 has taken shape with 30 percent progress, according to officials.
In February this year, China Nation oil offshore Company [CNOOC Uganda] Limited commissioned the procurement and construction Component one [PC1] For the Kingfisher Development Project in Buhuka parish Kyangwali Sub-county in Kikuube district.
Speaking during a media tour of the Kingfisher oil field on the shores of Lake Albert, Amina Bukenya, the CNOOC’s Media and Publicity Manager, explained that several works on well pads 2 and 3 are progressing.
According to her, at the oil well pad 3 the contractor is clearing the site and installing conductor pipes while at the oil well pad 2, the contractor has already established west mud stores, conductor pipes, accommodation, and stores for project equipment.
She added that all structural infrastructures put in place are some of the preparation to see that they get oil out of the grounds.
She noted that an oil production platform [rig] was procured and is being transported to Uganda and they expect it to be in the country by next month.
She said once the rig arrives, it will be installed on conductor pipes and this will help the company to start to drill oil from beneath Lake Albert.
The well pads, access roads, and water intake points are some of the facilities to be constructed under PC1 project.
The PC1 project is expected to last for 20 months at a cost of US$23.3 million. Seven months now, Excel Construction Limited, a Ugandan company that was contracted to implement the project has put up several structures giving hope that the long-awaited dream to have the first drop of oil by 2025 will be achieved.
CNOOC is undertaking the Kingfisher oil field spread over approximately 344 square kilometres in the Lake Albert Rift Basin in western Uganda.
The Kingfisher Development Project will be implemented in three components which include procurement and construction component one [PC1], engineering, procurement, and construction component two [EPC2], and engineering, procurement, and construction component three [EPC3]. The entire project will cost two billion dollars and is expected to create 20,000 jobs.
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