NEMA seeks views on oil production facilities in Buliisa

Uganda intends to start oil production in 2020. (File picture)

OIL AND GAS

BULIISA - The National Environment management Authority (NEMA) will commence public hearings in Buliisa district today to solicit opinions from the people on the potential impacts of the planned oil production facilities in the area.

Total E&P and Tullow oil recently submitted to NEMA an environmental and social impact assessment (EISA) report illustrating the potential positive and negative effects of the planned oil production facilities and proposed mitigation measures.

The report was generated after an EISA study by the two oil companies with licenses to develop six oil fields Murchison National Park in Buliisa and Nwoya districts.

In accordance with the law, NEMA, on Monday, will start public hearings in Buliisa at the district headquarters to obtain opinions from various institutions and people, including experts in various areas, on the report produced by the oil companies.

The views generated from public hearings are expected to fill potential gaps in the report and enrich mitigation packages.

In preparation for oil production, the Government has acquired land in Kasinyi village, Ngwedo sub county in Buliisa for the oil companies to establish (production) facilities.

The facilities will be constructed in the planned industrial area called Tilenga, a name coined from two names of an antelope (Engabi) in Bunyoro and Acholi (Til).

The facilities will include; the central processing facility (CPF), production wells, well pads, workshop, housing and other social amenities, among others.

The Tilenga fields are expected to produce about 200,000 barrels of crude per day, which will be either fed into the planned refinery and crude export pipeline in Hoima.

The senior presidential advisor on oil, gas and mining industries, Fred Kabagambe Kaliisa, will preside over the public hearing.

The NEMA executive director, Tom Okurut, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Ernest Rubondo, district chairman, Simon Kinene, Buliisa MP, Steven Mukitale, district woman MP, Norah Bigirwa and several members of the local community have arrived at the venue.