Work has started on a new oil refinery in the Hoima District of Uganda, the country's minister of state for energy has confirmed.

Speaking at the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers' National Technology Conference, Simon D'ujanda revealed that the African state is on course to produce its first oil products by August 2009.

In addition to producing 400 barrels of diesel and kerosene on a daily basis to meet local demand, the new plant will also produce around 100 megawatts of energy as a by-product to supplement national supplies.

"Next year, kerosene and diesel will be produced in Uganda," he said.

"We shall start with heavy oil and if the flow is good then we shall start producing petrol."

The minister has also revealed that the government is to launch a recruitment campaign for the new processing plant within the next few weeks, with the country's higher educational institutes urged to introduce energy industry related course.

"It's high time our universities and tertiary institutions of learning introduced such courses," he added.

The Hoima plant is being constructed with the assistance of the Irish Tullow Oil Company.