Page 9 - AfrOil Week 23 2021

AfrOil INVESTMENT AfrOil

The bidding round was launched more than two years ago (Image: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development)

The other three are Omuka, located in the Nebbi financially [and] technically, because we evalu-
district; and Ngaji and Turaco, which straddle ate that. It has to have powers of attorney [and
the borders between the Bushenyi, Rubirizi and a] joint venture agreement between the success-
Ntungamo districts. ful company and the new entrant. So they have
All five fields are near the border between done all those.”
Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Additionally, he said, CNOOC is already
a known quantity in Kampala because of its
CNOOC’s participation position as TotalEnergies’ partner in the devel-
After the announcement, Frank Mugisha, the opment of the Lake Albert fields. The govern-
ministry official who is serving as manager of the ment-run Chinese company is already operating
bidding round, confirmed local media reports one of these fields, Kingfisher, he noted.
that one of the winning bidders had decided to Mugisha went on to say that CNOOC had
work with a partner. He told Uganda Radionet- certain advantages because of its experience in
work (URN) that TotalEnergies had applied for offshore drilling. Specifically, he stated, the com-
permission to submit joint offers with China pany has the resources to shoulder the cost of
National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC). offshore drilling. “[It] is really an advantage,” he
URN said the Chinese firm’s involvement told URN. “You know, the area they are bidding
had stirred up some controversy, as one of the for has a large portion of offshore and we have
other three companies that submitted winning head challenges in drilling offshore ... [So] in
offers had asked why CNOOC was not included terms of drilling, you need not less than $50mn
in the government’s official list of participants. [for] drilling a well offshore.”
Mugisha asserted, though, that the French CNOOC also has a share in the East Africa
major had complied with the rules of the licens- Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which will run
ing round, which allow shortlisted companies to from Hoima, a town near Lake Albert, to Tanga,
team up with a partner during the request for a port on Tanzania’s coast. It will carry up to
qualification (RfQ) stage of the bidding process. 216,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the King-
“A single bidder can bring in another party, fisher and Tilenga fields. (TotalEnergies is the
provided that party meets certain requirements,” operator of Tilenga, while CNOOC is leading
the official explained. “It has to be competent work at Kingfisher.) ™

POLICY
Nigeria now aims to pass PIB in June

NIGERIA NIGERIAN legislators have reportedly set a new earlier this year that they expected to approve
deadline for passing the proposed oil and gas the PIB in the third reading and send it to Pres-
law, known as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). ident Muhammadu Buhari for signature some-
Members of the National Assembly had said time in May.

Week 23 09•June•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P9