Senior energy and government representatives from South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Djibouti will participate in a ministerial panel at South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026, taking place November 24-25 in Juba. The discussion will focus on strengthening regional energy cooperation, advancing cross-border infrastructure, and attracting investment into East Africa’s petroleum sector. The panel, titled Regional Cooperation, Investment and Energy Security, will feature Awow Daniel Chuang, Minister of Petroleum of South Sudan; Monica Musenero Masanza, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda; Silvester Kasuku, Advisor, Governance, Executive Office of the President, Kenya; and Wahib Ali Boulo, Director of Hydrocarbons, Djibouti.
The ministerial panel comes as East Africa enters a new exploration and production cycle, backed by the start of upstream projects in Uganda and Kenya, a drive to strengthen cross-border trade by Djibouti, and efforts to increase crude production in South Sudan. Regional cooperation is supporting these activities, and SSOP 2026 will provide a platform to explore East Africa’s broader energy renaissance. Minister Chuang joins the event as South Sudan opens its upstream market to international investors, with around 14 blocks currently available.
South Sudan aims to raise its crude production from 174,000 barrels per day (bpd) to around 230,000 bpd in the near term. To achieve this, the country is inviting investors to support brownfield development, accelerate exploration, and expand refining capacity. Uganda is also promoting investment in exploration as the country prepares to start oil production from the Kingfisher and Tilenga oilfields in June 2027. The fields represent the country’s entry into commercial oil production.
Crude from Uganda’s oilfields will be exported via the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, currently 92% complete, which connects the fields to Tanzania’s Port of Tanga. To sustain upstream investment, Uganda plans to launch a licensing round in 2026/2027. Meanwhile, Kenya is preparing to join East Africa’s oil producers as the country prepares for first production from the South Lokichar Basin in December 2026.
Developed by Gulf Energy, the Kenyan project targets 20,000 bpd in its first phase and 50,000 bpd in its second. The project coincides with investments in the downstream sector, including a 700,000-bpd refinery in Lamu, launched by Nigeria’s Dangote Group in late-September 2026. A South Sudanese delegation, led by Minister Chuang, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
Djibouti continues to strengthen its cross-border partnerships, having signed an agreement with South Sudan in 2025 to develop the White Nile Trade Corridor. The corridor aims to establish river and dry-port infrastructure in Juba, Bor, Malakal, and Renk, connecting South Sudan to international trade routes through Djibouti. Boulo’s participation at SSOP 2026 creates new pathways for strengthened regional ties.
Returning for its seventh edition under the theme Resource Renaissance – Energy-Fueled Growth for a New Generation, SSOP 2026 will provide a platform for policymakers, national oil companies, investors, and infrastructure developers to examine how regional partnerships can strengthen energy security and accelerate project development.
Key points
- Ministers from South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Djibouti will discuss regional energy cooperation and investment at SSOP 2026.
- East Africa is entering a new exploration and production cycle, driven by upstream projects in Uganda and Kenya, and efforts to increase crude production in South Sudan.
- The ministerial panel aims to strengthen regional ties and attract investment into East Africa’s petroleum sector.
