Total Uganda, in 2018 sold products worth UGX1.3 trillion, thanks to an expansion exercise that saw the company close the year with 155 petrol stations.
Total, retails motor and jet fuels, lubricants, LPG gas and associated accessories, as well as solar solutions for low-income communities.
The expansion was boosted by a March 2017 acquisition, by Total S.A. of Gulf Africa Petroleum Corporation (Gapco) from India’s Reliance Industries Limited- adding 32 outlets to Total Uganda’s 121 then.
That year, Total’s turnover which between 2015 and 2016 had slumped by 16%, from UGX 1.2 trillion to UGX1 trillion, took in a 10% growth, closing 2017 at UGX1.1 trillion.
In 2018, there was a further 13% leap in turnover, to UGX1.2 trillion- the company’s record highest turnover in its 64-year history in Uganda.
Similarly, profit has followed suit. Profit, between 2015 and 2016 grew by 89% from UGX9.7bn to UGX18.3bn, then by 4.4% in 2017 to UGX19.1bn.
In 2018 net profit grew by 29.3% to UGX24.7bn.
Vivo Energy overtakes Total
It is however not yet time to rest for Obi Imemba, Total’s Managing Director who joined in September 2018, as Vivo Energy, their closest rival is on a spending spree as well, planting a Shell outlet in every neighbourhood, especially in the greater Kampala area.
Vivo Energy, whose turnover in 2015, was just UGX960.4 bn, in 2017 overtook Total in gross earnings, taking in UGX1.12 trillion compared to Total’s 1.10 trillion.
In 2018, Vivo’s turnover was UGX1.32 trillion, ahead of Total’s UGX1.3 trillion.
However, although Vivo between 2015 and 2017 declared more profit than Total- UGX37.1 bn, UGX38.1 bn and UGX32.5 bn in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively, in 2018 the company had its net profit decline by 98.1%, registering a trifle UGX600 million in net profit.
Vivo’s rising fortunes, too are largely attributable to a robust expansion exercise that saw them close 2018 with 155 service stations.
Both companies are said to have a 24% market share.
CEO East Africa Magazine, reached out on email, to both Obi Imemba, Total’s Managing Director and Gilbert Assi, Vivo Energy’s Uganda boss for a comment on the results, but both declined to comment.
The company has since, according to reliable sources, expanded, reaching some 171 stations as of July 2019 and expects to close 2019 with some 200 petrol stations.
Profile: Obi Imemba, Total Uganda Managing Director
Date of Joining: September 2018
Obi, possesses over 20 years’ experience in the oil gas industry, and has held several leadership roles in the Exploration and Production sector.
His 16 year career at Total started in 2002, when he joined as a Technical Safety engineer.
His most immediate post, before Total Uganda Ltd., was Field Operations Manager at Total E&P Netherlands.
Before that, Obi who holds a master’s degree in Asset Integrity Management from the Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, U.K. and a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Production Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria worked as Offshore Installations Manager, Production Manager; and several other roles in facilities, projects and operations management in different Total countries including France, South Korea and Nigeria.