PLANS are underway to degazette part of Kaiso-Tonya wildlife conservation area in Hoima district, for the establishment of a mini-refinery and power plant under the petroleum Early Production Scheme.

The assistant commissioner in the petroleum exploration and production department, Ernest Rubondo, said the plant would be constructed by Tullow Oil early next year.

“The area needed is small, not more than a tenth of the game reserve.”

“Tullow Oil has proposed several areas within the reserve. They will write to the National Environment Management Authority and make an environment impact assessment report,” Rubondo said recently.

He was speaking during a workshop on the draft national oil and gas policy organised by the Ministry of Energy.

However, the executive director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Moses Mapesa, said they were not aware of the proposal to degazette Kaiso-Tonya.
“It is necessary for the Ministry of Energy to consult us because we have been working on many issues, but they have not informed us about plans to degazette the park.”

Mapesa did not rule out the possibility for the wild animals to co-exist with the extraction of oil.

“It is possible to extract the oil and keep the wildlife reserve which is one of the areas that generate rain,’’ he said.
He said a team of experts on wildlife, natural resource and geologists would have to conduct studies on the implications of degazetting the park before a decision is made.

State minister for energy Kamanda Bataringaya said the mini-refinery would begin running in June 2009. The plant is expected to produce paraffin (kerosene), diesel and heavy fuel oils, which will be used in the generation of about 80 megawatts of power, he added.

Bataringaya said the transmission line would be installed at a cost of $70m.
It will supply electricity from Kaiso-Tonya to the entire western Uganda region.
Bataringaya said a petroleum fund would be set up to manage revenue accruing from the exploration of oil.

The principal geologist, Robert Kasande, said the plant would refine 400 barrels of oil per day for kerosene, diesel and heavy fuel oils.

Plans were underway to carry out a feasibility study for the setting up of a power transmission line from Kaiso-Tonya, he added.

The workshop, which was held in Kasese town, attracted local and cultural leaders from districts located in the Albertine Rift Valley. They are Bundibugyo, Kasese, Kibale, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Bushenyi, Rukungiri and Kanungu.

The participants asked the Government to give royalties to cultural institutions and protect cultural sites during oil exploration.

The participants also requested the Government to be transparent and provide jobs to Ugandans rather than expatriates.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/601213