French-based oil major Total this week said it had started searching for oil and gas in the Lake Albert district in Uganda.

Ahlem Friga-Noy, Total’s spokesperson in Uganda, told Reuters: “UPDF (Uganda Peoples Defence Force) has declared 80 percent of the northern area of Block 1 safe. Therefore, 3D seismic activities have immediately resumed in this area, leading to a partial lifting of the force majeure.”

Officials from the defence forces have also evaluated the area and declared it secure.

In essence, this represents an opportunity for the french oil major to kick-start operations in the area.

Total’s exploration activities were suspended over a month ago after it was discovered that there was unexploded material in the area.

The exploration area – known as Block 1 – is situated in northern Uganda where the defence forces clashed with Lord Resistance Army (LRA) rebels for close on 20 years.

Uganda discovered “hydrocarbon deposits” of commercial quantity in the Albertine rift basin a little more than seven years ago.

This basin is situated on Uganda’s boundary with the DRC and the Ugandan dispensation reckons reserves currently stand at an equivalent of 3.5 billion oil barrels.

According to Reuters, China’s CNOOC and Total acquired a third of Tullow Oil’s exploration assets in a deal valued at $3 billion. Tullow Oil is the British oil explorer.