The main surface facilities of the Kingfisher oil field in Uganda, which is a significant project of energy cooperation between China and Africa, passed mechanical completion acceptance on Thursday. This event marks the end of construction of Uganda's first commercial oil field and the beginning of the preparation phase for production.
After commissioning, this field will allow Uganda to officially join the ranks of oil-producing countries. The field is located in the Albertine Basin in western Uganda and has estimated geological reserves of about 560 million barrels of crude oil.
The main surface facilities built by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) include a central processing complex with an annual capacity of 2 million tons, four well pads, a water intake station, inter-well pipelines, and a 1000-person camp.
The project is situated on the shore of Lake Albert in the East African Rift Valley, where large areas of soft ground cannot support heavy machinery. Construction difficulties were compared to building a factory on sponge. The project team successfully overcame challenges related to large-scale soil replacement in special geological conditions, as well as installing heavy equipment. 783 kilometers of pipelines and cables were laid, and over 300 units of equipment were installed, serving as an example of effective foreign engineering.
Furthermore, as part of the project, a green, multi-energy complementary power supply system and a wastewater recirculation system were built, contributing to the creation of a modern, environmentally friendly oil field. The project provided employment for over 1500 Ugandan citizens, achieving a localization rate of 90%, and provided 135,000 man-hours of skills training, forming the first cohort of industrial workers in Uganda with modern knowledge in oil and gas engineering.
When the field is fully operational, its daily peak production is expected to reach 40,000 barrels, which will positively affect local employment, infrastructure, and related industries.