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- Kabaleega International Airport in Uganda is conducting successful tests on its ground lighting system, marking a crucial step toward 24-hour flight operations and facilitating cargo flights to support the oil refinery construction in the region.
Testing of airport lighting has commenced at Kabaleega International Airport in Hoima District, Mid-western Uganda, focusing on the ground lighting system. Positioned strategically to support the extraction of crude oil beneath Lake Albert, discovered 17 years ago, the airport is crucial for facilitating 24-hour flights.
Successful tests indicate the capability of supporting continuous flight operations. The installed lights play a vital role in non-verbal communication between control tower personnel and pilots. Amos Muriisa, the Public Relations Officer for SBC Uganda, the consortium responsible for airport construction, mentions that the focus initially is on cargo flights, given their prioritized wing.
The completion of the airport, located on a 29 sq-km land acquired by the government a decade ago for the oil refinery, marks a significant milestone. The construction, expected to be commissioned in February 2024, is reported to be 98% complete, with final touches being applied to the runway. Despite relying on a generator due to insufficient grid power supply during testing, Muriisa describes the successful installation of the ground lighting system on the 3.5km runway as a substantial step forward for the airport.
The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), responsible for the refinery land development, emphasizes that the airport will play a crucial role in the swift transportation of equipment needed for the construction of the oil refinery and associated infrastructure in Kabaale village, Kabaale sub-county, Hoima district, in the Bunyoro region.
This development aligns with the progress made by oil companies TotalEnergies EP Uganda and CNOOC Uganda Limited in the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects. As production advances, with some oil rigs already in place, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) anticipates the first drop of crude oil by 2025.
Via: Kazi Njema
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