Construction of the Central Processing Facility (CPF) for the Tilenga oil project in Buliisa District has reached 68 per cent, with major installation works now underway as Uganda moves closer to its first oil production.
The CPF is the heart of the Tilenga project and is designed to process up to 190,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It will separate crude oil from water and gas, stabilise the crude, and prepare it for export through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
The Tilenga project is operated by TotalEnergies EP Uganda, in a joint venture with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), which holds a 28.33 per cent stake, and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), which owns 15 per cent. TotalEnergies holds the remaining 56.67 per cent interest.
The CPF will include crude oil separation and stabilisation units, water treatment systems, a Lake Water Abstraction System, power generation facilities, gas handling systems, export and storage tanks, a drilling support base, logistics and supply facilities, warehouses, offices, and a materials yard.
The Engineering, Procurement, Supply, Construction and Commissioning (EPSCC) contract for the facility was awarded to McDermott and Sinopec. Construction began in February 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
McDermott is responsible for the engineering, procurement and construction of the 190,000-barrel-per-day CPF, a temporary camp capable of accommodating 4,000 personnel, and the Lake Water Abstraction facility.
Sinopec is undertaking the engineering, procurement, supply, construction and commissioning of the well pads, surface facilities and flowlines, as well as horizontal directional drilling for the flowline crossing beneath the River Nile.
Andrew Ssenabulya, the Senior Facilities Engineer at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), told Uganda Radio Network that contractors are now carrying out the installation of key processing equipment and expressed confidence that the task will be completed before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Christopher Ochowun, the Public Relations and Public Affairs Coordinator at TotalEnergies EP Uganda, said the broader Tilenga project is progressing steadily. He said 16 of the project’s 29 well pads have already been drilled, with 230 wells ready for first oil production.
According to Ochowun, the overall Tilenga project had reached 74 per cent completion by June 2026. Progress has been made on enabling infrastructure, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning activities.
Three drilling rigs are currently operating under the project. Two, operated by Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau (ZPEB) Ltd, are located north of the River Nile within Murchison Falls National Park, while the third is operating south of the Nile outside the park.
The Tilenga development covers six production licences across Contract Area 1 and Licence Area 2. These include the Jobi-Rii, Gunya, Ngiri, Kasamene-Wahrindi, Kigogole-Ngara and Nsoga fields.
The project’s Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) was completed in May 2018, while the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) received approval from the National Environment Management Authority in April 2019.
The Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Tilenga project was announced in February 2022 alongside those for the Kingfisher Development Area and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, paving the way for Uganda’s commercial oil production-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
