Uganda Names Its $15 Billion Oil Project Crude "Pearl Sweet"

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 2, Uganda officially named the blended crude oil to be exported from the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil field development projects "Pearl Sweet." Crude produced from the two projects will converge at the Kabaale facility in Hoima before entering the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and being shipped out via the Chongoleani marine export terminal near Tanga, Tanzania. Uganda has not yet commenced commercial crude oil exports, and this naming took place ahead of first oil and first exports.

Tilenga is operated by TotalEnergies, with a planned peak production of approximately 190,000 barrels per day; Kingfisher is operated by CNOOC, with a planned peak production of approximately 40,000 barrels per day, bringing the combined peak production of the two projects to approximately 230,000 barrels per day. Tilenga, Kingfisher, and EACOP constitute Uganda's Lake Albert oil and gas development system, with total development costs for the related projects estimated at approximately $15 billion, and cumulative investment to date exceeding $12 billion.

"Pearl Sweet" is a medium, low-sulfur crude oil with an API gravity of approximately 28–31 degrees, and it also features a high wax content with a pour point of approximately 40 degrees Celsius. As the crude's fluidity decreases at lower temperatures, EACOP employs an insulated buried pipeline equipped with an electric heat tracing system. During pipeline operation, the crude oil temperature must be maintained above 50 degrees Celsius.

EACOP spans a total length of 1,443 kilometers, of which 296 kilometers are in Uganda and 1,147 kilometers are in Tanzania, with a pipe diameter of 24 inches and a designed peak delivery capacity of 246,000 barrels per day. The system includes 6 pump stations, 2 pressure reduction stations, and the Chongoleani marine export terminal. Crude oil produced from Tilenga and Kingfisher will be transported via feeder lines to Kabaale, where it will be metered and blended before entering EACOP. The Uganda refinery project holds the right to receive 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day on a priority basis, with the remaining crude available for export through EACOP.

As of September 1, the overall completion rate of EACOP has reached 92.7%, with remaining construction and commissioning preparations currently underway. Pump Station 1, located at the pipeline's origin in Hoima, will be responsible for receiving, metering, heating, and delivering crude oil from Tilenga and Kingfisher. Upon project completion, crude oil will enter the long-distance transmission system from this station and ultimately arrive at the export terminal on the Indian Ocean coast.

The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), on behalf of the government, holds a 15% participating interest in both Tilenga and Kingfisher, and holds a 15% interest in EACOP through the National Pipeline Company Uganda. Future international market sales of "Pearl Sweet" will be jointly advanced by UNOC together with TotalEnergies and CNOOC.