Monica Musenero, minister of energy and mineral development, said that the name carries Uganda's identity as the "Pearl of Africa" into the international petroleum market.
KAMPALA, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has named its crude oil blend "Pearl Sweet" as an identifier in the global oil market, ahead of the country's entry into commercial oil production.
President Yoweri Museveni unveiled the name on Wednesday at the Kingfisher Oil Development Area, operated by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), in Kikuube District in western Uganda.
According to a statement from State House, Museveni said the crude was named "sweet" because it contains little or no sulfur, making it easier and cheaper to refine than high-sulfur crude.
The president said Uganda's oil resources should not simply be viewed as a commodity for export, but as an opportunity to establish industries and strengthen the country's productive capacity.
Monica Musenero, minister of energy and mineral development, said at the event that the name carries Uganda's identity as the "Pearl of Africa" into the international petroleum market.
"It should remind us that the oil beneath our soil belongs to generations, those living today and those yet to be born. It should therefore symbolize our commitment to responsible production, environmental stewardship, national participation and prudent management of the benefits arising from our petroleum resources," she said.
At the event, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Wu Guangrong reaffirmed China's commitment to sustaining and strengthening bilateral relations with Uganda, particularly in key areas of cooperation including oil and gas, trade, infrastructure, investment and other sectors critical to the country's socioeconomic development.
He also said Uganda-China cooperation should extend beyond resource extraction to include capacity building, employment, local content and industrial development.
The naming ceremony came as Uganda prepares to enter commercial oil production.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, completion of facilities at the CNOOC-operated Kingfisher oil field had reached 99.4 percent, with 22 wells drilled, representing 116 percent of the drilling requirement for First Oil.
At the TotalEnergies-operated Tilenga oil field, more than 210 wells had been drilled by July, exceeding the minimum requirement for First Oil, according to the ministry.
Together, the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects are expected to produce about 230,000 barrels of oil per day at peak production. ■
