Works at the CNOOC Uganda’s Kingfisher Development Area (KFDA) in Kikuube District, have resumed following the lifting of a suspension of operations by the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) on Friday October 13, 2023.
The suspension followed a fatal accident at the KFDA last Friday, where a security guard was knocked dead, while opening the camp gate to allow access to an oncoming truck.
Commenting on the lifting of the ban, Ernest Rubondo, the PAU Executive Director, said: “This step has been taken after rigorous examination of all standard procedures to ensure that the health and safety requirements are being robustly implemented by all contractors and sub-contractors.”
He also noted the Authority had reviewed and realigned the safety protocols with CNOOC for overall improvement in the health, safety and environment (HSE) culture and practices during operations.
Additional preliminary safety measures have been instituted, and an overall strategy on contractor HSE management enhanced, notes a PAU statement.
“PAU is satisfied that the agreed procedures, when implemented, will ensure the safety and well-being for all during the oil and gas operations,” the statement adds.
Following the accident last week, CNOOC had promised to enforce various “Vehicle Access Control Measures” measures to avoid similar incidents in future.
These included: i) reviewing all existing vehicle access control procedures to include the requirement for drivers to turn off their engines before physical inspection is performed, ii) installation of appropriate Gate Boom Barrier outside all vehicle access gates, iii) providing training to all drivers on improved vehicle access control requirements, iv) providing training to all security guards on how to safely conduct physical vehicle inspections and v) equipping security guards with skills in vehicle crash prevention when opening the gate and performing physical vehicle checks, amongst others.
