Uganda: Uganda, Ghana Deepen Cooperation On Petroleum Regulation

What the report says

Uganda and Ghana are expanding cooperation on petroleum regulation and upstream governance, according to reporting from Nile Post carried by AllAfrica. The engagement took place in Accra, where the Board of Directors of Uganda’s Petroleum Authority met Ghana’s Petroleum Commission to compare approaches to regulation, upstream operations and local content development.

Uganda’s delegation said the country wants to draw lessons from Ghana as it moves closer to first oil. PAU board member Innocent Kihika said the purpose of the visit was to learn from Ghana’s experience and build a longer-term relationship between the two institutions. The Ugandan side said experience from countries that have already gone through exploration, development and production could help improve Uganda’s regulatory systems.

The Ghanaian commission shared its experience with legal and regulatory frameworks, institutional setup, upstream operations, local content, and health, safety and environmental management. The two sides also discussed practical challenges involved in managing petroleum resources. In a reciprocal exchange, Ghana said it was interested in Uganda’s approach to onshore petroleum development, community engagement and environmental safeguards, especially as Ghana looks at possible onshore oil and gas opportunities in the Voltaian Basin.

The institutions agreed to continue knowledge-sharing and deepen cooperation on petroleum governance and operations.