OREANDA-NEWS.  January 20, 2014. Government has so far received 10 applications for oil production licences, with at least 21 wells said to be ready for 'harvesting'.

In a statement, Ernest Rubondo, the commissioner for petroleum exploration and production, said the licensed oil companies in the country had submitted applications, together with the respective Field Development Plans (FDP) and Petroleum Reservoir Reports (PRR). This is in-line with the provisions of the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act 2013.

Last September, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (Cnooc) became the first oil company to receive a production licence for the Kingfisher field. The field is one of the largest in the country, estimated to hold 635 million barrels of oil.

Tullow Oil, which operates in Exploration Area 2, has submitted field development plans and petroleum reservoir reports for eight discoveries in areas of Mputa, Nzizi, Kigogole, Nsoga, Ngara, Ngege, Kasamene and Wahrindi.

Total E&P Uganda made its first application last month for a production licence for the Ngiri discovery in Exploration Area 1 in Buliisa district.

The oil companies are still evaluating other wells in the Albertine region. Total, in September 2013 for instance, applied for the extension of the appraisal period for the Jobi, Rii, Gunya, Jobi-East and Mpyo discoveries in Exploration Area 1.

The Jobi and Rii discoveries were subsequently extended until June 2014 while the period of appraisal for Jobi-East, Gunya and Mpyo discoveries was extended until December 2014. Tullow is also continuing to appraise the Waraga discovery in EA 2, probably until April.