In the oil and petroleum sector, safety is paramount, and TotalEnergies EP Uganda has taken it to heart. In the backdrop of a directive from the Petroleum Authority of Uganda halting operations at the Kingfisher Project due to a fatal accident caused by negligence, TotalEnergies EP Uganda stands out as a beacon of uncompromising safety in the industry.
TotalEnergies EP Uganda, with a majority interest in the Lake Albert project, operates the Tilenga project, where over 400 oil wells are being drilled across 31 oil pads. The company’s unwavering commitment to safety is evident in its recent milestone—20 million man-hours without a Lost Time Incident (LTI). This remarkable achievement, spanning from August 10, 2023, and continuing for 226 days since their previous milestone in January 2023, means that not a single employee or contractor suffered a workplace injury leading to prolonged work disruption.
Philippe Groupeix, General Manager of TotalEnergies EP Uganda, emphasizes that safety is a cornerstone of the company’s values, recognizing that an unsafe company is not sustainable. Achieving this milestone reflects their collective dedication to executing their complex project without accidents, positioning them among the top-performing TotalEnergies affiliates in terms of safety. This success is a testament to their organizational culture, stringent risk management, adherence to Safety Golden Rules, leadership commitment, comprehensive training, and collaboration with contractors who played a pivotal role in minimizing risks and enhancing safety performance.
TotalEnergies EP Uganda’s investment in cutting-edge technology, equipment, local and international experts, and strict safety protocols underscores their unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and ensuring that safety remains the top priority, even as their activities on-site increase significantly. Safety isn’t just a policy for TotalEnergies EP Uganda; it’s a core value that guides their operations, setting a benchmark for the entire industry.
The Kingfisher oil well area in Kikuube District, operated by CNOOC Uganda is one part of the larger Lake Albert Oil development project with oil field development stretching to the north of the lake in Buliisa District. On the other side in Buliisa, TotalEnergies EP Uganda are in process of drilling the 400 plus oil wells across 31 oil pads in the Tilenga oil well. In 2012, TotalEnergies EP Uganda entered a partnership with CNOOC to operate the Lake Albert Project. TotalEnergies holds majority interest in the Lake Albert project with 56.67% and is operator of the Tilenga project while CNOOC holds 28.33% and is operator of the Kingfisher project. The Uganda National Oil Company holds 15% in the projects.
The Tilenga project will produce 230,000 barrels of oil at plateau from the 6 fields of Ngiri, Jobi Rii, Gunya, Mputa-Nzizi-Waraga, Kasemene-Wahrindi, Kigogole-Ngara, Nsoga and Ngege. The first oilproduction is projected to start in 2025.
On Friday October 6, 2023, the oil and petroleum sector regulator, Petroleum Authority of Uganda issued a directive halting the drilling and other operations at the Kingfisher Project in Kikuube District. A letter signed by PAU Executive Director Ernest Rubondo stated that the directive followed a fatal accident that resulted from negligence on the part of the area operators CNOOC Uganda Limited. Rubondo further explains that there had been several warnings which CNOOC had failed to heed to, a trend that puts the safety of the personnel in jeopardy.
According to Rubondo, Section 177 of the Petroleum (Exploration, Development, and Production) Act of 2013, requires that following a fatality all operations must be halted, with the exception of those activities that are necessary to ensure safety and security.
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