Bukasa fuel storage depot almost complete

By George Mangula
While prospecting companies Total and Tullow announced pulling out of the oil pipeline project, the construction of new, state-of-the art multi-billion shilling fuel storage and transport system in Bugiri/Bukasa village, Wakiso district is currently 70 percent complete and it is expected to become functional next year.
This was disclosed by Capt. Mike Mukula, the chairman of Mahathi Infra Uganda Limited which is an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company established for execution of projects, primarily in the oil and gas sector, contracted to deliver the project.
This fuel storage and transport system project involves the
construction of 14 fuel storage tanks, a couple of 220 meter long jetties and ships.
Mukula said that so far work on the 14 tanks is 100 percent complete and the outstanding 30 percent work for the entire project only accounts for the work remaining on the jetties and ships.
“Once fully functional, the storage tanks will have the capacity to store up to 70 million liters of fuel making the project one of the largest fuel terminals in East and Central Africa. On the other hand, with a speed of up to 10 nautical miles, the jetties are estimated to be delivering fuel within 16 hours while one ship will be able to carry about 200 trailers of fuel,” said Mukula.
This project is anticipated to ease transportation of fuel from
Kampala to Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Currently, Petroleum products such as Diesel, Gasoline, Kerosene and Jet A1 are transported by road making it costly, and susceptible to contamination, accidents and uncertain supplies.
The tanks are expected to address the challenge of storage shortage in Uganda by storing enough fuel for the country and neighboring states.
There will be provision of both direct and indirect employment for Ugandans and Kenyans, Mukula noted.