Overview:
The crude was unveiled on Tuesday at the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC) 2026 in Singapore, putting Uganda’s oil before international refiners, traders, investors and other industry players.
SINGAPORE — Uganda has formally introduced its crude oil, branded Pearl Sweet, to the international petroleum market as the country steps up preparations for first oil production.
The crude was unveiled on Tuesday at the Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC) 2026 in Singapore, putting Uganda’s oil before international refiners, traders, investors and other industry players.
Energy and Mineral Development Minister Monica Musenero Masanza unveiled the crude at the conference, describing the occasion as a major milestone in Uganda’s journey towards becoming an oil-producing country.
“It is my great honour and privilege to be here at APPEC 2026 for this historic occasion: the unveiling of Uganda’s crude oil to the global market,” Dr Musenero said.
The Pearl Sweet name was chosen by President Museveni during his recent visit to the Kingfisher Development Area.
The name combines Uganda’s identity as the “Pearl of Africa” with the crude’s low sulphur content of 0.12 per cent.
The crude is classified as heavy and sweet, with high wax content and low acidity. The Energy ministry says the characteristics give refiners opportunities for upgrading through secondary processing units while reducing corrosion.
The crude is also considered suitable for producing Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil in line with the International Maritime Organisation’s 2020 sulphur standard.
Dr Musenero said the characteristics could make Pearl Sweet an attractive feedstock for refiners in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
“Pearl Sweet therefore offers refiners across Asia, the Middle East and Europe a reliable and competitive feedstock, with a strong balance of operational flexibility, product value and refinery economics,” she said.
The international unveiling comes as Uganda moves from developing its oil fields to preparing for commercial production and eventual exports.
Uganda has an estimated 6.5 billion barrels of oil in place, of which about 1.4 billion barrels are considered recoverable. The country also has an estimated 500 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
The resources have so far been confirmed in less than 20 per cent of the Albertine Graben, according to the ministry, leaving room for further exploration.
Production plans
Uganda’s oil commercialisation strategy includes peak production of about 230,000 barrels per day, a 60,000-barrel-per-day refinery and exports through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
The Tilenga, Kingfisher and EACOP projects reached Final Investment Decision in February 2022, paving the way for major investments in oil production, transportation and related infrastructure.
Total investment in Uganda’s oil and gas sector, including the planned refinery and associated infrastructure, is estimated at about $20 billion.
EACOP will transport crude from the oil fields in Hoima over 1,443 kilometres to a marine export terminal at Tanga in Tanzania.
Construction of the pipeline and export terminal is now more than 90 per cent complete, according to the ministry.
Uganda also plans to build a 60,000-barrel-per-day refinery at Kabaale in Hoima District, alongside a 211-kilometre multi-products pipeline and a petroleum products storage terminal.
Dr Musenero said the Government wanted the oil industry to stimulate wider economic activity rather than operate as an isolated extractive sector.
“The Government of Uganda is determined that our oil and gas sector must not operate as an enclave. It must be a catalyst for industrialisation, not simply an extractive activity,” she said.
More exploration
Meanwhile, exploration is continuing in the Moroto-Kadam, Lake Kyoga and Hoima basins as the Government prepares for the country’s Third Petroleum Licensing Round.
Dr Musenero used the APPEC platform to invite refiners, traders and investors to consider Uganda’s crude and other opportunities in the country’s oil and gas industry.
“I invite all of you to interest yourselves in Pearl Sweet crude, and in the other exciting opportunities in oil and gas in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa,” she said.
The unveiling marks a shift in Uganda’s crude oil story from resource development and infrastructure construction to positioning its oil for international buyers as the country approaches first production.