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TotalEnergies EP Uganda has inaugurated the Industry Enhancement Center (IEC), a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing the capabilities of Ugandan Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to actively participate in the Oil and Gas sector. The center, funded with $2.3 million, is a sector-led initiative designed to equip local businesses with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage sustainably in the sector’s opportunities.
Operated by a joint venture comprising Zoramu Consulting Group and Invest in Africa, the IEC will provide tailored business advisory, training, and capacity-building services to Ugandan SMEs, with the objective of enhancing their understanding and proficiency within the sector. By offering sector-specific information and support, the center aims to bolster local businesses’ ability to effectively engage in the Oil and Gas supply chain and other related sectors.
Philippe GROUEIX, General Manager of TotalEnergies EP Uganda, emphasized the importance of contractor development initiatives in addressing challenges hindering Ugandan suppliers’ maximum participation in the Oil and Gas industry. These challenges include sector knowledge, health, safety, and environment (HSE) practices, certification requirements, technical competencies, and financial modeling. GROUEIX highlighted the IEC’s role in mitigating these challenges and promoting national content and shared value for Uganda’s sustainable development.
The launch of the IEC follows a 2013 Industrial Baseline Survey commissioned by TotalEnergies EP Uganda and its Joint Venture partners, which identified the need for promoting national content and capacity building for Ugandan SMEs. The center is part of TotalEnergies’ commitment to supporting the development of National Content in Uganda’s Oil and Gas sector, complementing other ongoing initiatives such as community supplier development programs and support to education institutions.
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Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, hailed the IEC initiative for empowering Ugandan SMEs with the necessary skills and resources to thrive in the oil and gas sector and beyond. She emphasized the significance of fostering local business growth for creating lasting economic benefits and positioning Ugandan companies as drivers of national development.
TotalEnergies EP Uganda has awarded a three-year contract worth $2.3 million to a Joint Venture comprising Zoramu Consulting Group and Invest in Africa to establish the IEC. These companies bring industry knowledge and experience in strengthening SME capacities within similar contexts, thereby enhancing the center’s effectiveness in supporting local businesses.
Jimmy Mugerwa, Project Director, highlighted the IEC’s importance in enabling Ugandan companies to supply goods and services to the oil and gas industry effectively. He emphasized the center’s role in addressing capacity gaps that previously limited Ugandan businesses from meaningfully participating in the sector and capitalizing on its significant opportunities.
Ernest Rubondo, the Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, praised the establishment of the IEC as a strategic initiative to build capacity and transfer knowledge and technology to Ugandan companies. Rubondo emphasized the center’s alignment with the country’s regulatory focus on National Content and its potential to contribute to the sector’s overall development.
The IEC represents a milestone in Uganda’s oil and gas sector development journey, consolidating past achievements in enterprise development and complementing existing initiatives in the private sector. Its establishment comes at a crucial time, just before the country’s anticipated first oil production, signaling a significant step towards maximizing local participation and benefits in the sector.
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