Uganda together with other participants from Sub Saharan Africa, who attended the 7th Annual Sub Sahara Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference undertook a study visit to the $19 billion Dangote Crude Oil Refinery in Lagos, Nigeria on 16^th February 2023.

The delegation from Uganda, which was led by Uganda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Nelson Ocheger also included the Executive Director, Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Mr. Ernest Rubondo and the Chief Executive Officer, Uganda National Oil Company Ms. Proscovia Nabbanja.

The 650,000 barrels per day Dangote oil refinery which was 97% had over 15,000 workers on the site and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.  The refinery was initially 100% owned by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, but the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporate acquired 20% of the stake in 2021 at a cost of US$2.7 billion.

Ms. Proscovia Nabbanja, the Chief Executive Officer of UNOC thanked Dangote group for accepting to host the delegation and noted that there were several important lessons which had been learnt from the study visit, which would help develop its own crude oil refinery and for strengthening of the working relationship with the Dangote group.

Uganda is currently planning to construct a 60,000 barrels per day crude oil refinery at an estimated cost of US$4 billion with UNOC having a 40% stake.  During the construction phase, the Uganda’s refinery project is estimated to over 5,000 workers on site.

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda reiterated its commitment to ensure that most of the jobs generated from the refinery project and indeed all other oil and gas projects in country, go to Ugandans, where the skills are available.

Source: PAU website.