Uganda and Nigeria three year MOU to promote oil & gas

The signing ceremony, which took place at the ministry of Energy and Mineral Development headquarters in Kampala, was witnessed by Nigerian High Commissioner to Uganda F.M.Ayogu and energy officials from both the two countries.

Speaking to the press after the signing ceremony, Lokeris said, "The president of Uganda met the president of Nigeria in 2008 and had serious engagements on trade and our infant oil & gas industry. Here in Uganda, we adopted the best oil industry in the world. Dr Egbogah, who is heading the Nigerian team, has a lot of experience in managing the oil sector in the world and that is why his team is here to train our people in the oil sector."

The minister added, "I visited Nigeria’s National Oil Company and saw many experts with doctorates in this field. Our president said we must get the knowledge in Africa to shape up this (oil & gas Industry) in Uganda."

"We drafted 16 laws for the oil industry," Egbogah, who headed the 13-man delegation, said. "We are going to bring the Nigeria’s oil industry to the 21st century. All the militancy in the oil rich Niger Delta, will come to an end. Since the president announced amnesty, the whole country was allocated of 10 per cent from the oil proceeds. Nigeria is producing one million barrels a day. This is something Uganda has to do."

Lokeris said that so far, two billion barrels of oil have been discovered in western Uganda. "We will inform the world and Ugandans, particularly when we continue to discover oil in various areas of the country."