Projects and Programmes - Fossil Fuels
1. Regional Development Strategy Initiative
In order to facilitate provision of efficient and reliable delivery of oil products throughout the region, the Regional Strategy on development of regional refineries was developed. It addresses all aspects of petroleum distribution system in the region, including refineries and storage facilities in a holistic way in order to improve its effectiveness and efficiency. The Strategy reveals the clear interdependence between various forms of infrastructure in the delivery of petroleum products. Key recommendations for the strategy include:
- Develop a new refinery in Uganda in order for the oil discovered in Uganda to provide optimal benefits to the region;
- Accelerate planned upgrading of the Mombasa refinery; and
- Improve the handling, transportation, storage and distribution facilities in the region for efficient and economic distribution of petroleum products
2. Oil and Gas Pipeline Projects
Important discoveries made in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are expected to enhance the resource potential for the region towards energy self-sufficiency. This came after oil and gas regional exploration efforts were scaled up.
These efforts paved way for petroleum infrastructure projects. EAC has identified priority oil and gas pipeline projects as follows:
- Crude oil pipeline: Feasibility studies for a crude oil pipeline to transport crude oil from the Albertine Graben to the Indian Ocean for export have been completed. In addition, a network of crude oil pipelines will transport crude oil from the oil fields to the Refinery currently under development. An oil products pipeline from the Refinery to Kampala will facilitate delivery to the market.
- Upgrading existing oil products pipeline: The existing pipeline system runs from Mombasa port to Eldoret and Kisumu in Western Kenya. The upgrade project covers construction of a new pipeline from Mombasa to Nairobi and between Sinendat and Kisumu as capacity enhancement for the Eldoret depot. These projects will contribute to planned expansion to other EAC Partner States and other countries that rely on the region for their petroleum imports. For more information, refer to the Kenya Pipeline website.
- Kenya - Uganda - Rwanda - Burundi oil products pipeline: Feasibility studies and tender documents for the extension of the existing oil products pipeline from Kenya to Uganda and Rwanda have been completed and resources for EPC contracting are being mobilised. Procurement for consultancy services to carry out feasibility study for extension from Rwanda to Burundi is ongoing. The project sections include Eldoret (Kenya) - Kampala (Uganda), Kampala – Kigali (Rwanda) and Kigali - Bujumbura (Burundi). In addition, an oil products pipeline will link a new refinery in Hoima (Uganda) to Kampala making it a hub for refined oil products from the discoveries in the Albertine Graben for distribution in the region through the planned pipeline network. These projects will facilitate efficient, safe, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly distribution of the oil products.
- Proposed Uganda - Tanzania oil products pipeline: EAC plans to link all its Partner States to the planned refinery development in Hoima, Uganda. It is in this context that an oil products pipeline is planned from Mbarara (Uganda) to Mwanza, Isaka and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). The planned pipeline system from Kampala (Uganda) to Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi) will create a major depot in Mbarara (Uganda). The planned pipeline to Tanzania is proposed to start from this depot. Resources are being mobilised to carry out a feasibility study on the project.
Natural Gas Infrastructure Development: The United Republic of Tanzania has developed a Natural Gas Master Plan for the sustainability of local gas needs and surplus for export. Substantial financing is required in order to drill additional and/or multiple appraisal wells in the deep waters where discoveries have been made as well as putting in place the necessary infrastructure (processing plants, pipeline etc.). In a bid to meet the growing demand for natural gas, a new natural gas pipeline has been constructed from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam. The delivered natural gas is being used for power generation and other industrial uses.
3. East African Petroleum Conferences and Exhibition
The EAC organises the East African Petroleum Conferences and Exhibition biennially since 2003.
The Conference and Exhibition aims at promoting petroleum exploration potential and investment opportunities in East Africa. It is hosted on a rotational basis by the Partner States and brings together Governments, international oil companies, oil industry service companies, academia. The main activities include technical presentations, posters and field excursions to regions that Partner States would like to promote for exploration and investment. It is flavoured by a variety of social activities to give participants an unforgettable experience.
When the East African Petroleum Conferences started in 2003, there was limited information on the region’s petroleum potential and little exploration activity. The region was perceived as a frontier with the only discoveries at the time being natural gas in Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay in Tanzania. There was little interest both for the region and the conference, which only attracted 150 participants.
Things changed dramatically after the second conference held in Entebbe in 2005 with the discovery of oil in the Albertine Graben in Uganda in 2006. By the third conference in Arusha in 2007, the number of participants had grown to over 500 and interest in the region was growing.
During the fourth edition of the conference held in Mombasa in 2009, interest in the conference had grown extensively, rendering it necessary to introduce parallel sessions - a feature the conference has maintained since. It was also during the Mombasa conference that a significant interest in exhibition was realised, so much that it was made a fully-fledged component in the subsequent conferences. The name was then officially changed from East African Petroleum Conference to East African Petroleum Conference & Exhibition (EAPCE).
The last EAPCE was held in March 2015 in Kigali, Rwanda. The 8th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition will be held on 8-10th March 2017.