The oil production expected to start in the Albertine region by 2020 is projected to create over 160,000 jobs, Caroline Korutaro, a senior petroleum engineer in the Directorate of Petroleum at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has said.
Korutaro said of jobs created, about 60% will be for petroleum engineers, geologists, oil researchers and other experts whereas the remaining percentage will go to the informal sector players such as crafts sellers and hoteliers.
“The jobs are categorised into four; the basic and entry level, trade and crafts, the technicians as well as engineers and managers,” she said.
During launch of a book on petroleum authored by Denis Ampumuza, a geoscience student at Makerere University, Korutaro said the jobs in Oil and gas sector will be created directly and indirectly.
She said Uganda has 6.5billion barrels of oil of which 1.4billion is recoverable.
“So far we have made 21 discoveries and 9 production licenses have been offered in over 14 discoveries. There is also an ongoing exploration in areas of Bulisa and Murchison falls,”she added.
The book titled: Tapping Uganda’s Oil and Gas Wells” highlights different opportunities in the forthcoming oil production activities and how citizens can be better placed for the opportunities.
Ampumuza said many people are vying for petroleum engineering and geology and yet there will be jobs created through recycling of oil wastes, research among others.
“The best investment you can make right now is to acquire knowledge and skills. Understand what oil and gas is about, the situation of the sector and the available opportunities,” he said.
Ampumuza asked the Government to invest in other sectors such as agriculture and tourism, saying they will thrive even after the oil resource becomes depleted within 20-25 years.
Robert Tugume, a lecturer in geology and petroleum unit at Makerere University,
said the Government should use the money earned from oil to skill the citizens so that they can create their own jobs and contribute to the country’s economic development and growth.
Souce * www.newvision.co.ug
