National Petroleum Authority seeks to recruit chief executive officer

The National Petroleum Authority like its sister company the National Oil Company is seeking to recruit a chief executive officer, top management staff and other staff for the company.

The function of the Authority is to monitor and regulate exploration, development and production of petroleum in Uganda.

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda has seven members headed by Dr. Jane N. Mulemwa, who is also a deputy chairperson of the Education Service Commission. Other members include Reuben Kashambuzi, Dr. Immaculate Semanda Nakimera, Peter Lominit, Doreen Kabasindi Wandera, Eng. Patrick Nakoko and Kiryowa Kiwanuka.

Mulemwa holds a B. Sc chemistry and a diploma in education (chemistry and biology) from Makerere University; and, a Ph.D. Chemistry (Physical Chemistry) from the Queen's University, Belfast. She has lectured chemistry and science education in Makerere University and other institutions for over 10 years.

Industry experts believe that with the petroleum boards in place and exercise of recruiting top management, the government's plan to issue new exploration licenses, the long awaited issuing of oil production licenses will be fast tracked. The boards are also expected to take on various activities related to the industry such as discussions on the choice of routes of crude oil pipeline from Hoima to the East Africa coastline and the refinery development in Hoima.

Uganda's Petroleum resources are now estimated to be 6.5 billion barrels of oil initially in place. This is up from 3.5 billion barrels that was estimated in August 2012. Of this estimated 6.5 billion barrels of oil in place, 1.4 billion barrels of oil are estimated to be recoverable. Previously, recoverable oil was estimated at 1.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent from 3.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent initially in place.   

500 billion cubic feet of gas is also now estimated to have been discovered in Uganda to date. This translates to about 90 million barrels of oil equivalent.

The enacted Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Act 2013 and the Petroleum Refining, Development, Storage and Transportation Act 2013 have led to the creation of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda and the Uganda National Oil Company respectively.

Dr Jean-Pascal Nganwou, senior country economist for Uganda macro fiscal management, World Bank said many countries with natural resources were in poverty and Uganda should learn from the mistakes such countries. Nganwou said good governance, transparency, environment protection in the natural resource sector were critical steps to ensure good use of the resources.

"The Oil and Gas policy of 2008 lacks clarity of roles of different entities. When there is lack of clarity you lead to poor governance, rent seeking behavior and corruption in the sector," Nganwou said.