Uganda to Demarcate Land for Oil Refinary

12-March-2012

KAMPALA, Uganda - The demarcation of land proposed for an oil refinery in Uganda is set to start within two weeks, as the East African nation continues efforts to exploit oil resources, Uganda's state media reports Monday.

The boundary survey for the proposed site of at least 29 square kilometers in the Lake Albertine Rift will be conducted by experts from the ministry of lands and the government will later hire a consultant to plan the resettlement of the effected residents, the state-owned New Vision reported, citing Robert Kasende, the assistant commissioner at the ministry of energy and mineral development.

Kasende said other oil refinery-related infrastructure such as waste management facilities, staff quarters, a modern airport and petrochemical industries will be located on the site.

Oil exploration companies have discovered at least 2.5 billion barrels of oil in the Lake Albertine Rift Basin and Uganda is set to start oil production next year. Companies such as France's Total SA (TOT) and China's Cnooc Ltd. (CEO) have expressed interest in investing in the refinery, which is expected to be built under a public-private partnership.