Uganda to launch Pearl Sweet crude oil exports in December with a daily output of 25,000 barrels

Uganda is set to become the world's newest oil exporter, with commercial shipments of its Pearl Sweet grade crude scheduled to start in December and plans to increase daily output to 230,000 barrels within three years. The African nation's Energy Minister and other senior officials are in Singapore this week attending the S&P Global Energy Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference, where they are promoting Pearl Sweet crude to buyers. Proscovia Nabbanja, CEO of Uganda National Oil Company, said at a briefing on Tuesday that this medium-heavy, low-sulfur crude will be priced against the global benchmark Brent crude. Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Irene Pauline Batebe said the initial Pearl Sweet supply will come from the Kingfisher field operated by CNOOC, with daily production starting at 25,000 barrels in December and rising to 40,000 within six months. TotalEnergies' larger Tilenga project is scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of 2027. Uganda also plans to build a refinery with a daily processing capacity of 60,000 barrels, with a final investment decision expected around February. The Energy Minister stated that during the refinery's development, most or all of the country's crude will be exported. She added that once the refinery is operational, domestic crude supply will be prioritized.