Uganda stands to benefit from Trinidad and Tobago's vast experience in the development and management of the oil and gas industry. So said Irene Muloni, that country's Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, as she wrapped up a study tour to T&T over the weekend.Muloni, who called for the deepening and broadening of the bilateral relations between the two countries, added: "I am extremely happy about Trinidad and Tobago's success in in oil and gas sector which has improved the country's economy as well as people's standard and quality of living."Sher said Uganda is keen to learn the best practices of managing its infant but nascent oil and gas industry and avoid the pitfall so that the resources can be used to transform Uganda to middle-income and developed nation in the medium and long-term.
Muloni led a ten-man Ugandan delegation on a week-long visit on the invitation of the T&T government. The delegation comprised of the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, His Majesty Solomon Gafabusa Iguru accompanied by his administration and technical team from the petroleum exploration and production department of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine, who bid farewell to his Ugandan counterpart at a cultural function held at the Hotel Normandie and arranged by the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC), reiterated the T&T government's commitment to support Uganda's quest for capacity building, investments and trade."We are strongly committed in further assisting Uganda in the development of its energy sector. We are ready to invest in Uganda, provide technical assistance and building technical skills for Ugandans," he said."We have talked for long and this is the time to progress and put the talks in action. We shall support Ugandan whenever we are requested to do so."
During their study tour, the Ugandan delegation visited the NGC's offices, NGC's facilities in Guayaguayare, the UTT campus at Point Lisas, Petrotrin, Atlantic and the Point Lisas Industrial Estate. They also attended the Emancipation Day celebrations in Port-of-Spain. Muloni, said Uganda has confirmed 3.5 billion of barrels of oil in reserves in just only 40 per cent of the hydrocarbon potential Lake Albertine basin. She also said there was a substantial amount of gas confirmed but studies are on-going to establish the actual quantity."We want the people of Uganda get involved in the oil sector and therefore building their capacity is our priority so that they can get jobs. We are promoting entrepreneurship skills so that Ugandans take the opportunity created by the oil and gas sector and we have encouraged them to form joint ventures," Muloni said."We are going to use the oil revenues to build power stations to provide electricity for our people, railway system to improve our transport, invest in agriculture so that we add value to our produce and earn more income."