"The Albertine Graben is Uganda's most investigated, de-risked and prospective sedimentary basin... Therefore, the six blocks on offer present a great opportunity to discover additional resources that will enhance the sustainability of oil and gas production and commercialisation," said Mr Kabagambe-Kaliisa.
"The government plans to award new petroleum exploration, development and production licences before the end of this year," he added.
The six blocks on offer are Mvule (344km2), Taitai and Karuka (565km2), Ngassa (416km2), Turaco (425km2, Kanywataba (344km2), and Ngaji (895km2).
But all the blocks have been explored before without much success. Only Tullow drilled two successful wells in Ngassa.
In Turaco, Heritage Oil and Gas reportedly found high concentrations of carbon dioxide.
Seismic data
According to analysts, the government's strategy is to exhaust their potential considering that it now has more seismic data about the blocks that previous licence holders acquired.
Their initial success rate might explain why the Ministry has not succeeded in attracting any bids from major firms like Total and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) -- both of which already operate in Uganda. This is in spite of the fact that it even changed the deadline for announcing successful applicants, which it had set for the end of May, and went back to solicit more bids.
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