Uganda has selected global energy trader Vitol to market the government’s crude oil allocation ahead of planned exports in early 2027, the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) announced on Monday, September 7, 2026.
Vitol will use its international trading, marketing and logistics network to connect Uganda’s crude oil with global buyers as the country enters the final commercial stage of its petroleum development.
President Yoweri Museveni officially named the country’s crude oil “Pearl Sweet” on September 2, 2026. The medium-to-heavy sweet crude will be produced from the Tilenga and Kingfisher projects in western Uganda, which are expected to have a combined production capacity of up to 230,000 barrels per day.
The crude will be transported through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania, where the pipeline and its export terminal are nearing completion.
Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Monica Musenero, said Vitol’s appointment demonstrated the country’s transition from petroleum development to delivery. She added that the company would help identify suitable refiners and maximise the value of Uganda’s crude.
Vitol Asia head Kieran Gallagher said “Pearl Sweet” was suitable for several Asian refineries. Uganda discovered commercially viable oil reserves in the Albertine region in 2006 and has since invested in infrastructure for their production, transportation and commercialisation.