Uganda invites Five Bidders to negotiate PSA’s in first competitive licensing round

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has announced it has completed evaluation of bids for the first competitive licensing round and invited the successful companies to negotiate Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs).

Four companies from Nigeria and Australia have been invited to negotiate for PSAs for three blocks blocks as indicated below:
1. Armour Energy Limited of Australia for the Kanywataba Block.
2. WalterSmithPetroman Oil Limited of Nigeria, for the Shallow and Deep Plays in the Turaco area.
3. Oranto Petroleum International Ltd of Nigeria for the Shallow and Deep Plays in the Ngassa area.
4.  Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Ltd of Nigeria for the Shallow and Deep Plays in the Ngassa area.

The ministry says it will commence negotiations for five PSAs with these companies this week and conclude them by month end as to when it will issue five exploration licenses, upon successful negotiation.

The five PSAs are one for the Kanywataba block and two for the shallow and deep plays of the Turaco and Ngassa blocks respectively.

According to Director for Petroleum in the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development (MEMD)  Ernest Rubondo reaching the negotiations for these PSAs is the final milestone before granting exploration rights over these areas.

The key aspects to be discussed during the negotiations will include the respective work programmes, National Content and the fiscal aspects like Royalty which were biddable.

Further due diligence will be undertaken on the successful bidders with regard to their work programmes, National Content and the fiscal aspects management capabilities prior to the issuance of licenses.

Rubondo added that the investments and activities arising out of the exploration work under these new exploration licences are expected to come at the same time as the investments and activities of developing the already discovered oil fields in the country and those for constructing the infrastructure for commercialization which include a refinery and an export pipeline.

“These multiple activities will lead to a significant increase in investment in Uganda’s oil and gas sector and an increase in its knock-on effect on the other sectors of the economy,” he said.
Uganda’s first licensing round is being undertaken in line with the National Oil and Gas Policy for Uganda (2008) and in accordance with the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act 2013.