Uganda’s Petrochemical Industrial Park Master Plan to be complete by February 2017

A master plan for the development of the petrochemical industrial park in Hoima, Uganda is expected to be completed by February 2017 according to the country’s Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.

Speaking at the opening of the 6th joint sector review for the energy and mineral development sector Dr Ruhakana told participants that already the acquisition of 29.5km2 of land to accommodate a petrochemical-based industrial park has been completed.

The park which will include a refinery, a crude oil export hub, an international Airport, logistics systems, utilities, and other petrochemical industries will also have an integrated infrastructure corridor which will accommodate a pipeline, a highway, Power Transmission and ICT infrastructure cable systems is being planned, from the industrial park at Kabaale in Hoima to Kampala.
Dr. Ruhakana added that the first phase for the refinery, of 30,000 barrels per day is expected to be in place by 2020/2021. The refinery has South Korea ‘s SK Engineering and Construction as the lead developer after the preferred lead bidder RT Global resources pulled out.

“Implementation processes are on-going for the development of a 60,000 barrels per day petroleum refinery in a phased manner starting with 30,000 barrels per day, crude oil feeder pipelines from the oil fields to an oil hub near the refinery, a 1445km long, 24-inch diameter crude oil export pipeline, and a 211 km long 12-inch diameter pipeline from the refinery to a storage terminal to be developed North-West of Kampala Capital city,” he said.

The prime minister has also called on the ministry of energy and minerals to expedite grant of Exploration Licences to new oil companies even as progress is being made to grant Production Licences to existing Oil Companies.