Total has reiterated its view that there is no need for a new refinery in Uganda, saying that it is “difficult to understand†why the authorities in the country see the need for a large complex. The company’s Chief Financial Officer did concede however that a building smaller refinery capable of producing around 20,000 barrels per day could be feasible.
“We’re trying to convince them that a medium-sized refinery is the right size for them,†said Total CFO Patrick De La Chevardiere (pictured).
Total has already signaled that it is ready to participate in the construction of a refinery in the country, though it says it remains non-committal to the project. Tullow Oil and Cnooc are also involved.
The three oil companies were granted licences to operate exploration businesses the country earlier this year, though the government has rejected any plans for development they have put forward without downstream investment.
Though at odds with the Ugandan government, Total has said that it intends to invest between $15bn and $120bn in its African business through to 2014. “Africa is quite important to us,†said De La Chevardiere stated.