An appraisal of the law on national content in Uganda's oil and gas industry: a case of upstream and midstream statutory law and national content regulations

Abstract

National content law in the oil and gas sector emphasizes the integration of Ugandans by highlighting forms of national participation. The law allows state participation through employment of Ugandans transfer of technology provision of goods and services by Ugandan companies National content provisions require investors to meet targets measured as a percentage of investment hours worked equipment supplied, and jobs created Targets and other objectives must be carefully quantified adapted to the local context and collaborative. The statutory laws and regulations that stipulate national content provisions are; The Petroleum (Exploration, Development, Production) Act 2013, the Petroleum (Refining, Conversion, Transmission and Midstream Storage) Act 2013 The Petroleum (Exploration, Development, Production) (National content) Regulations 2016 and The Petroleum (Refining Conversion Transmission and Midstream storage) (National Content) Regulations 2016. The principal legislation (as mentioned above) on the oil and gas sector is sufficient to promote local content while maintaining the stability of the legal regime. This dissertation reviews the law deemed sufficient to promote national content in the oil and gas sector. The upstream is the exploration development and production of oil and gas The upstream is the exploration development and production of oil and gas. The midstream is the refining conversion production and midstream storage To realise optimum participation of Ugandans in oil and gas the law makers made it crystal clear in the statutory and regulations by providing for national content and how it’s to be executed The law provides for open participation of qualified Ugandan entities National participation will ensure a large number of Ugandans participate in oil exploration a multi-billion project that is likely to boast the economy of the state his dissertation will focus on national content law for Upstream and Midstream. The paper also describes the legislation and institutions surrounding national content in Uganda. The law has provisions for local procurement of goods and services, local employment and local company ownership. This legislation is intended to increase transparency and accountability in extractive industries to achieve beneficial state participation.