Uganda's Cabinet has approved the request from the Energy Ministry to allow three petroleum production licenses to Total E&P.
Total will be issued production licenses for Ngiri, Jobi-Rii and Gunya fields located in the Albertine Graben basin.
The production licenses to be issued have a duration of 25 years and can be renewed for an additional five years as provided for in the Production sharing agreement (PSA).
Also the licenses provide that where there are oil fields which extend across boundaries of license areas, it's agreed that these oil fields will be developed as one unit.
The final investment decision is planned to be taken in 18 months after issuance of the production licenses and first oil is expected in the financial year 2019/2020.
The Petroleum Authority of Uganda will regulate the licensed companies while the National oil company will participate in all licenses to take care of government's commercial interests.