Uganda yesterday named its blended crude oil grade ‘Pearl Sweet’, a key step ahead of the East African country’s planned start of commercial oil production by the end of this year.
Uganda discovered commercial crude reserves two decades ago in fields along the Albertine rift basin on its border with Democratic Republic of Congo.
Commercial production has been repeatedly delayed by a lack of infrastructure and disagreements between the government and international oil companies over development plans.
President Yoweri Museveni unveiled the name at a ceremony in Kikuube district, about 250km west of the capital Kampala.
He said ‘Sweet’ refers to the crude’s low sulphur content, while ‘Pearl’ is drawn from Uganda’s description as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, a phrase popularised by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Uganda’s recoverable oil reserves are estimated at 6.65 billion barrels, with peak production expected to reach 230,000 barrels per day.
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