The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) signed an Agreement with Tristar Energy Limited, a division of UAE-based Tristar Group, for operating a newly constructed fuel storage facility and fuel hydrant pipeline system at the Entebbe International Airport.
Tristar has constructed a 12-million litres fuel storage tank farm already and laid an underground fuel pipeline to supply fuel directly to aircraft. The new facility built will hold additional fuel storage at the airport, with enhanced safety for safe and good air traffic turnaround which will benefit the Ugandan people and regional development. This will also boost the growing number of operators at the airport.
Tristar has future expansion plans to meet any demand in the long term. When fully completed, the fuel farm will have 22 million litres storage and a 7km fuel hydrant pipeline with 43 fuel hydrant pits covering the entire airport. The storage facility and fuel hydrant pipeline are constructed in compliance with latest industry standards and leak detection system with 24X7control and monitoring system.
The Agreement signing ceremony was chaired by Director General of UCAA, Fred Bamwesigye. From Tristar, Eugene Mayne, Group Chief Executive, signed the Agreement. The meeting was attended by other senior management staff from both sides with their respective legal counsels.
Bamwesigye acknowledged the efforts of both sides and wished that the long-term collaboration would help the airport infrastructure and boost airline passenger growth at Entebbe International Airport. Mayne thanked UCAA for the support and leadership. He also emphasised on the best standards and safety systems that are benchmarked at Tristar and assured UCAA that Tristar would set world-class standards at the airport for fuel handling services.
Tristar’s Aviation facilities comply with international standards, specifications and guidelines set by IATA, JIG, AFQRJOS, as well as with IFQP requirements set by Airlines for Aviation Fuel Quality Control and Operating Procedures. Entebbe International Airport is now being considered as one of the potential East African airports being used as a gateway to other parts of Africa and the rest of the world.
Apart from Uganda national carrier Uganda Airlines, other African airlines that are now operating in Entebbe are Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Rwand Air, Air Tanzania, and from Middle East, Emirates Airlines, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, and Qatar Airlines, to name few. Tristar adheres with the international standards and guidelines of IATA and JIG. Tristar’s high standards of safety will enhance the confidence of international airlines operating into Entebbe International Airport.
The infrastructure will be run on a Build, Operate and Transfer arrangement between Tristar and UCAA and is in line with the ongoing EIA expansion programme.
