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Chairman Uganda Chamber of Mines & Petroleum Elly Karuhanga has warned that the level of preparedness in the local oil sector is below par.
“The level of preparedness is still low since only 25 firms were found eligible to supply the industry. Local suppliers aren’t equal to the task to operate on 29,000sq km,” Karuhanga told delegates at the ongoing 2nd Oil and Gas convention at Sheraton Hotel.
The convention under the theme “Supplier’s Roadmap to Operational Excellence” has brought together a number of stakeholders involved in the oil and gas industry. “There is need for high investments expected and front-end engineering designs,” Karuhanga added.
The two day convention that ends today, highlighted issues related to oil standard policies, national participation, safety and local supplier development.
Government investing in training
Ernest Rubondo from the Ministry of Energy reassured about the future, saying, “Government has prioritised the national participation in the oil sector by upgrading petroleum institutions especially Kichwamba national Petroleum College in Hoima as well as other University institutions.
“We established a national content unit to accommodate capacity building around significant areas like the upstream targeting the oil companies, mid stream employing workers for the construction of the pipelines and refinery and also the downstream supporting the transport sector.”
Rubondo said the training will fill the gap of the certification of jobs which has hindered many people from taking up oil opportunities set up by international organisations. The said government has gazetted 20 service providers.
Frank Sebbowa, Executive Director Uganda Investment Authority said they have devised an electronic service “ebiz” to help people ease business operations by incorporating and registering their businesses, verifying land ownership online to bridge long distance gaps .
“According to Harvard School of Economics, Uganda is among the 10 growing economies between now and 2020. We have favourable systems for operating businesses like a liberalised banking system, 650 products are quota and duty free, wide market and deliberate policy to protect investment,”Sebbowa added.
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