Uganda Names First Crude Oil Blend 'Pearl Sweet'

President Yoweri Museveni officially unveiled 'Pearl Sweet' as the commercial brand for Uganda's crude oil on September 2, 2026, during a ceremony at the Kingfisher development area in the Kikuube district. The name references Uganda's identity as the 'Pearl of Africa,' while 'Sweet' denotes the oil's low sulphur content of approximately 0.16%, making it cheaper and easier to refine into gasoline and diesel.

The naming follows a technical review and a countdown campaign led by the Uganda National Oil Company to establish a recognized grade for international trading screens and commercial negotiations. Pearl Sweet will identify the combined output from the Tilenga development, operated by TotalEnergies, and the Kingfisher field, operated by CNOOC Limited. The Tilenga project's Central Processing Facility is currently 72% complete, with TotalEnergies reporting the employment of nearly 16,000 Ugandans.

Uganda estimates its recoverable petroleum resources at 1.4 billion barrels. The waxy, paraffinic crude will be exported via the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline to the port of Tanga, Tanzania. Because of the oil's consistency, the pipeline requires electrical heating to prevent thickening. The Petroleum Authority of Uganda targets the first oil exports for later this year.