Uganda Names Crude Oil Blend 'Pearl Sweet' Ahead of Commercial Production
The Ugandan government has named its prospective crude oil blend 'Pearl Sweet' as the country prepares for commercial production by the end of the year. The name is a nod to Winston Churchill's description of Uganda as 'the pearl of Africa,' with the 'sweet' in the nomenclature reflecting the crude blend's low sulfur content.
The Ministry of Energy said the name combines national identity with a commercial description, supporting future crude marketing activities and engagement with potential buyers. The country is estimated to have recoverable oil reserves of roughly 1.6 billion barrels, with French oil company TotalEnergies owning the largest stake, followed by China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said that oil development projects will maximize the value of resources at home and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products. Production is expected to plateau at about 230,000 barrels per day, with blended crude exports emerging from separate projects by CNOOC and TotalEnergies.
Despite legal and environmental setbacks since the discovery two decades ago of commercially viable quantities of crude deposits, Wednesday's event in Kikuube marks progress. Environmentalists have opposed the construction of a heated pipeline linking Uganda's oil fields near Lake Albert to a port in Tanzania, citing concerns about the Paris Climate Agreement.