CPECC: Environmental protection first

As of April 20, the Kingfisher Oilfield Project in Uganda — built by China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corporation (CPECC) and its consortium partners — had reached 99.2% completion. Demolition of temporary facilities such as prefabrication yards and warehouses, along with vegetation restoration, is now underway.

As Uganda's first oil and gas field development project, Kingfisher plays a key role in driving local economic and social development. Located near Lake Albert — which is home to wildlife listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, including grey crowned cranes and egrets — the project faces exceptionally high environmental standards. Since construction started in May 2022, the project team has adhered to the sustainable development principle of "developing while protecting and protecting while developing," integrating environmental measures into every stage of construction.

Flood interception and internal drainage channels between the facilities and the hillside ensure operational safety. The in-station drainage system collects oily rainwater, allowing any oil to be recovered and ensuring treated rainwater meets discharge standards. A four-stage water treatment process reinjects all qualified produced water back into the reservoir, achieving zero discharge of production wastewater. Associated gas is recovered and can be used for power generation and LPG production. In emergency situations, it can be flared via a ground-level enclosed flare, effectively avoiding light and noise pollution.

During construction, the project team installed noise-reducing covers and vibration-damping pads on high-noise equipment to minimize the disturbance to wildlife. To prevent soil erosion around the central processing station, the team chose native Brachiaria grass — known for its robust root system — as a pioneer species, combining it with concrete frame slope protection. This has reduced the soil loss modulus by approximately 40%. The camp's domestic sewage treatment system uses activated sludge technology, with treated water directed into marsh wetlands for natural secondary purification, eliminating the risk of wastewater entering the lake. More than 300 trees, including mango and jackfruit, have been planted across the camp, along with lawns around the buildings, turning the area into a haven where birds such as lapwings and pin-tailed whydahs forage and play.

The Kingfisher project team has set up 15 full-dimension monitoring points across the oilfield and selected and trained ecological monitors from surrounding villages, creating a grid-based system to control environmental risks. Since construction began, the project has successfully passed multiple audits by local independent environmental agencies, earning wide recognition from local authorities and communities.