Uganda Names Crude Oil Blend 'Pearl Sweet' Ahead of Commercial Production
Uganda has named its prospective crude oil blend 'Pearl Sweet', ahead of commercial production by the end of this year. The name is a nod to Winston Churchill's description of Uganda as 'the pearl of Africa' in the last century, with 'sweet' reflecting the low sulfur content of the crude blend.
The Ministry of Energy stated that the name combines national identity with a commercial description, supporting future crude marketing activities and engagement with potential buyers. Uganda is estimated to have recoverable oil reserves of roughly 1.6 billion barrels, with investors including French oil company TotalEnergies, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), and the Ugandan people through the Uganda National Oil Company, which owns a 15% stake.
The naming of 'Pearl Sweet' marks an important milestone in Uganda's journey to develop its oil and gas resources for value addition and economic transformation. President Yoweri Museveni stated that through refining, petrochemical industries, and the use of associated gas for electricity generation, they will maximize the value of their resources here at home and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.