The Ministry Of Energy And Mineral Development Permanent Secretary Kalisa Kabagambe told East Africa Business Week that the oil firms, which signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government to undertake partial financing of refinery project, are currently evaluating.
Till date, only China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has received a production licence from government.
"They (oil firms) are preparing for production which is expected to happen in 2017, they are getting ready. The construction of the refinery is expected to start next years," Kabagambe added.
Kabagambe said that the similar works on the pipeline from Hoima to Kampala is scheduled to commence in near future to transfer the product to the market through to Kenya.
Although the initial production capacity is expected to have 60,000 barrels per day (BPD), the refinery is likely to double its capacity to 120,000 BPD when it reaches peak capacity.
