Uganda's state-owned Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) is actively seeking an exploration and development partner for the Kasuruban block, a license it wholly controls in the Lake Albert basin. Preliminary estimates indicate the block could contain over 600 million barrels of commercially recoverable crude oil. The development strategy for these resources is envisioned as a tie-back to the nearby Tilenga oil complex operated by TotalEnergies, leveraging existing infrastructure to accelerate production, reduce costs, and generate earlier revenues for Uganda.

Kasuruban Block Potential and Exploration

The Kasuruban block is located directly south of TotalEnergies' Tilenga licenses and has been the focus of recent assessment. UNOC has identified nine potential oil prospects within the block, including Mutonto, Lanya, Kasuruban, Karakogere, and Kwoke. The block also contains two legacy discoveries, Taitai and Karuka, made by former operator Tullow Oil between 2008 and 2010. Since signing an exploration agreement in early 2023, UNOC, in collaboration with the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), has been analyzing sub-surface data. To further define drilling targets, a 150 line-kilometer 2D infill seismic survey was initiated across the block last month.

Broader Development Context and Infrastructure

The Kasuruban block is situated within the larger development context of Uganda's oil sector, which is being advanced by UNOC, TotalEnergies, and CNOOC International. The key projects are:

• Tilenga Complex: Will feature 31 well pads and a central processing facility with a capacity of 204,000 barrels per day (bpd).
• Kingfisher Complex: Will host four well pads and a central processing facility with a capacity of 42,000 bpd.

Production from these complexes will be exported via the 1,443-kilometer East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to Tanga port in Tanzania, with a capacity of 246,000 bpd. Approximately 60,000 bpd of this output is designated for a planned Ugandan refinery. First oil from the overall mega-project is scheduled for the second half of 2026.

Project Progress and National Resource Assessment

Significant progress has been reported on the major projects. For the Kingfisher project, all 19 wells needed for first oil have been completed. On the Tilenga project, 164 out of 170 planned wells have been drilled. Regarding the EACOP, all line pipe has been delivered and over 1,000 kilometers have been welded. Overall completion rates are reported at 60% for Tilenga, 74% for Kingfisher, and 75% for EACOP. Concurrently, the country's updated assessment of recoverable oil resources has increased from 1.4 billion to 1.65 billion barrels, a figure that is assumed to not yet include the initial estimate for the UNOC-operated Kasuruban block. The refinery project is also advancing, with the finalization of its design and pre-commissioning studies underway alongside efforts to secure financing.