Govt tables second major oil Bill
Feb 15, 2012
Government Tuesday presented to Parliament a Bill to regulate petroleum refining, gas processing, transportation and storage.
By John Odyek and Joyce Namutebi
Government Tuesday presented to Parliament a Bill to regulate petroleum refining, gas processing, transportation and storage.
Peter Lokeris, state minister for energy tabled the Petroleum (Refining, Gas Processing, Transportation and Storage) Bill 2012.
MPs resisted receiving the Bill after they complained that they had not received copies of it in their pigeon holes. Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said she had not seen the Bill. However, Lokeris said over 300 copies had been brought to Parliament and after Kadaga was given a copy, she allowed the bill to be tabled.
This is the second oil Bill government is bringing to Parliament following a recent Parliament resolution asking government to do so.
Lokeris said government's policy was to refine crude oil in the country and therefore relevant laws would be put in place.
The Bill seeks to create the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, the National Oil Company and provides for the licensing of petroleum refining, gas processing, provides for health and safety concerns and offences for contravention of decisions under the law.
The authority's role includes monitoring petroleum refining, gas processing, transportation and storage facilities and promoting investment in the sector.
The National Oil Company will play a role in petroleum refining, gas processing, transportation, storage and midstream petroleum infrastructure.
Lokeris said the crude oil will be refined into petrol, jet fuel, paraffin and residues could be converted into byproducts such as fertilisers and plastics.
He said the law will provide for the transportation of oil from oil wells to refineries and transporting the finished products for commercial use. In addition the law provides for creation of storage facilities and conversion of oil to generate gas.
The bill provides that a holder of a license in crude oil refining, gas processing, transportation and storage shall inform the authority on the number of employees by race, gender and disability. They are also required to make a report on the training of Uganda personnel; the numbers trained and title of qualifications obtained.