Uganda has begun plans for its third round of petroleum exploration licenses in the fiscal year beginning in July, 2025.
This was announced by Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa in a briefing on Thursday.
According to the minister briefing, Uganda has opened up additional territories and will have the third licensing round for new oil and gas exploration licenses in the 2025/2026 (July-June) fiscal year.
The third oil licensing round was initially slated to be held in May 2023, according to the minister’s statement in 2023.
The minister announced that the country is exploring for oil in two new regions where potential discoveries of crude could increase the East African country’s proven reserves of 6.5 billion barrels.
She said geologists have begun conducting initial surveys for oil in two additional basins (the Moroto-Kadam Basin and Kyoga Basin) located in the north and northeast of the country to assess its oil and gas potential.
Although the second licensing round pertains to five oil blocks in the Albertine Graben, Western Uganda. The available blocks are Ngaji, Turaco, Avivi, Kasuraban, and Omuka.
“The second licensing round is driven by factors including establishment of additional petroleum resources and reserves, the current high price of crude oil, interest in investing in the country’s oil and gas sector, a conducive investment climate, and minimal geological commercial risk,” the minister said.
What you need to know
The government has granted nine manufacturing permits so far through MEMD. In particular, China National Offshore Oil Company was granted a single petroleum production license (PL) for the Kingfisher field.
In 2012, Tullow Uganda Operations (which has subsequently sold its assets to Total E&P) was given five PLs pertaining to Mputa-Nzizi-Waraga, Kasamene-Wahrindi, Kigogole Ngara, Nsonga, and Ngege fields. Total received three PLs pertaining to the Ngiri, Jobi-Rii, and Gunya fields in 2016.
