Irish upstream firm Tullow has pledged $7 million to establish new infrastructure and training projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The DRC shares a land and water border with Uganda, where Tullow has had marked success in oil and gas exploration.

The Financial Times reports that in a bid to promote stability on both sides of Lake Albert, the company has pledged to establish new community projects in the DRC, helping to promote access to jobs, education and healthcare.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Aidan Heavey, chief executive of Tullow, said Uganda has already seen the benefits of new hospitals, roads, infrastructure and training.

"The other side is a community with nothing - no roads, no schools. Unless there are facilities on both sides of the lake it will be destabilising," he said.

Tullow is also investing heavily in training and development in Ghana, which is due to achieve first oil in the final quarter of the year.

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