Uganda Begins Second Oil Licensing Round

Uganda has this week launched its second licensing round for five oil blocks located in the Albertine Graben.

The blocks offered up are as follows: Avivi (1,268km2) in Arua, Omuka (750km2) in Nebbi, Kasuruban (1,285km2) between Buliisa and Packwach, Turaco (635km2) in Ntoroko District, and Ngaji (230km2) along the borders of Bushenyi, Rubirizi and Ntungamo.

Minister for Energy Irene Muloni announced the launch during the East African Petroleum Conference held in Mombasa, Kenya, where she stated “We have had lessons to learn from the previous licensing round. We have new laws in place and we have adequate data, so we think we are better than we were the last time.”

Following the last licensing round in 2015 Australia’s Armour Energy Limited and Nigeria’s Oranto Petroleum were awarded exploration licences for Kanywantaba oil block in Ntoroko District and Ngassa oil block in Hoima District respectively.