30 May 2016, Nairobi – Refined fuel exports from Kenya to Uganda and northern Tanzania and other parts of the region are expected to rise with the completion of a new pipeline.
A 10-inch pipeline valued a $57 million, has been designed to deliver higher volumes of fuel to the Kenya Pipeline Company’s Kisumu depot on the shores of Lake Victoria.
China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPPB) built the pipeline to increase oil products supply in western Kenya for local use, and to export oil to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, northern Tanzania, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Building of 122km pipeline started in mid 2014 and was completed in 14 months parallel to the existing 6-inch pipe from Sinendet in Nakuru to Kisumu.
A study done by a Chinese firm, Shengli Engineering and Consulting Company Ltd, shows that petroleum products demand in western Kenya is approximately 1.2 billion litres and the export market needs about 2.3 billion litres per annum.
The Kisumu depot has in the past experienced shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene and jet A-1 fuel. It receives fuel from Mombasa port through Nairobi, Nakuru and Sinendet pump station.
- The East African