Uganda christens crude Pearl Sweet ahead of commercial production

Uganda on Wednesday has officially christened its blended crude oil grade “Pearl Sweet,” marking a major step ahead of the country’s planned commencement of commercial oil production by the end of the year.

The East African nation discovered commercial crude deposits two decades ago along the Albertine Rift Basin on its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

However, the start of commercial production has faced repeated postponements due to infrastructure deficits and protracted negotiations between the government and international oil consortia over development frameworks.

President Yoweri Museveni unveiled the brand name during an official ceremony in Kikuube District, roughly 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of Kampala.

He explained that “Sweet” highlights the crude’s low sulfur content, while “Pearl” references Uganda’s longstanding title as the “Pearl of Africa,” a phrase popularized by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Following the unveiling, joint venture partners developing the fields will begin refinery outreach, market intelligence operations, and commercial sales negotiations with prospective off-takers, according to a statement released by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).

Uganda’s recoverable oil reserves are currently estimated at 6.65 billion barrels, with peak output projected to reach 230,000 barrels per day.

France’s TotalEnergies serves as the lead operator with a 56.67% stake, partnered with China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) holding 28.33%, while UNOC manages the remaining state equity.

The Pearl Sweet blend will reach global markets through the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a 1,443-kilometer (897-mile) heated conduit linking Uganda’s western oilfields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga on the Indian Ocean. UNOC noted that the crude’s waxy, low-sulfur profile closely resembles established regional grades, including Chad’s Doba crude as well as the Nile and Dar blends produced in Sudan and South Sudan.