A view of Lake Albert
Cnooc to start drilling in Uganda
Kampala is bullish about the country’s upstream future
Uganda may be able start producing oil from its Lake Albert developments ahead of schedule. Chinese state-controlled Cnooc will start drilling for oil on the Kingfisher field in February. Cnooc’s drilling “will enable Uganda to pump out 40,000bl/d in 2024, ahead of the June 2025 deadline the country set for first oil commercial production”, state-owned Uganda National Oil Company (Unoc) says. The Chinese firm erected the rig at Buhuka Flat last November. Cnooc (with 28.33pc) is partnered with Unoc (15pc) and French major TotalEnergies (56.67pc) in the Lake Albert development, which will send oil along the planned East Africa Crude Pipeline (Eacop) for export via the Tanzanian port of Tanga.
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
