MINISTER OF ENERGY MAKES MAIDEN VISIT TO TILENGA PROJECT SITES

The new Minister of Energy & Mineral Development, Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa has officially visited Total E&P Uganda’s Tilenga Project sites. The visit which took place on Wednesday, 11th August 2021 was aimed at familiarizing the Minister with developments in the oil and gas sector. The Minister was accompanied by the Minister of State for Energy & Minerals, Hon. Sidronius Okasai Opolot and the Minister of State for Mineral Development, Hon. Peter Lokeris.

The delegation visited the Central Processing Facility (CPF) area located in Kasenyi village that is currently undergoing site preparations by contactor Mota-Engil. They then proceeded to the home of Mr. Mugayo, one of the Project Affected Persons and a resident of Total E&P Uganda’s Resettlement Housing project under Resettlement Action Plan 1. The Minister toured the 4-bedroom house which is fitted with a solar panel to provide lighting, an outdoor 10,000 litre water tanker, an outdoor kitchen and VIP Latrine.

The delegation visited the Kirama Water Project that was undertaken with support of Total E&P Uganda to Buliisa District. The project aims at establishing Buliisa Phase II (North Kigwera Community Project) water scheme with a hope to extend piped water supply to sections of the Tilenga Project area. The project comprises a 10,000-litre water tank that is expected to serve approximately 2,000 people in the villages of Kirama, Kichoke, Katodio. Hon. Nankabirwa commended Total E&P Uganda on this Project which she said will benefit the communities by addressing the water challenge in the project area and additionally reiterated Government's support for the Tilenga project.

The minister also made a stopover at the Kasemene-1 where she inspected the Bitutainers containing crude oil from well testing carried out during the exploration & appraisal phase. To conclude her tour to the Tilenga project site, the Minister thanked Total Energies for its continued support to Uganda’s Oil and Gas sector despite the numerous challenges to include the drop in global oil prices and the COVID- 19 pandemic’s impact on business operations worldwide. 

Speaking on behalf of the Country Chair TotalEnergies and General Manager Total E&P Uganda, Ms. Mariam Nampera Mbowa- the Deputy General Manager Total E&P Uganda thanked the Minister for the visit, and revealed that the Company is committed to adhering to the highest standards of safety, social, human rights and environment protection, and restated willingness to continue pursuing constructive dialogues with all stakeholders including Government, Project Affected Persons, Regulatory Agencies and Civil Society to develop the project in a socially responsible and sustainable manner.

Accompanying the Ministerial team were the representative of the Executive Director Petroleum Authority Uganda (PAU), Alex Nyombi; CEO Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), Proscovia Nabbanja and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development, Mr. Honey Malinga.