Uganda oil start date in doubt despite crucial agreements

Pipeline deal with Tanzania and agreement with Total raise hopes of FID—but go-ahead could be delayed until 2022

Upcoming elections and doubts over financing for the world’s longest heated oil pipeline could scupper Uganda’s hopes of obtaining FID on its much-delayed Lake Albert crude project before year-end. Lake Albert was found to hold c.1.7bn bl of crude following Tullow Oil’s discovery of oil in 2006. The financially troubled Anglo-Irish Tullow, French major Total and Chinese NOC Cnooc each hold one-third stakes in the project—although Total agreed in April to buy out Tullow for $575mn: $500mn on conclusion of the deal, plus $75mn following FID. Tullow, which says the sale should be complete by year-end, would receive further payments if Brent prices rise above $62/bl.   The project’s viability de