The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has launched the Second Seismic Survey of the Kasuruban Contract Area in the Albertine Graben, aiming to expand the country’s oil exploration and strengthen long-term production for the EACOP pipeline and the planned refinery.
The launch, held in Buliisa District, was presided over by Head of Public Service Lucy Nakyobe during a supervisory visit of ongoing oil and gas projects in the Tilenga Project and Kasuruban Block.
The seismic survey is a critical step in understanding the petroleum potential of the area.
Seismic surveys involve sending sound waves into the ground, which reflect back and are recorded at the surface using advanced tools.
The data collected is then processed to create detailed sub-surface maps that guide exploration and drilling decisions.
UNOC CEO Proscovia Nabbanja said the company contracted Oriento Geophysical Uganda Limited to conduct the survey.
She emphasized that the project complies with all legal and regulatory frameworks, including environmental and social impact assessments approved by NEMA and operational clearance from the Uganda Wildlife Authority to operate in a game reserve.
“The survey will not only provide seismic data but also geological, geophysical, and technical information, helping us identify drillable prospects and enhance the resource base,” Nabbanja explained.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Irene Batebe, said the survey is part of additional exploration activities, noting that further licensing rounds will be held for remaining basins.
The Kasuruban Block, located in the Northern Lake Albert sub-basin within the Albertine Graben, covers 1,285 square kilometers across Hoima, Buliisa, and Masindi districts.
It is the largest of the five blocks announced during the Ministry’s second licensing round in May 2019.
Lucy Nakyobe stated she intends to share insights from her visit to inform policy and implementation decisions, while Aminah Zawede, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT, expressed hope that the oil and gas sector will drive socioeconomic growth and development in Uganda.
UNOC was granted the exploration license for the Kasuruban Contract Area on February 2, 2023, and signed a Production Sharing Agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to facilitate development.
