Uhuru Kenyatta flags off first crude oil shipment at Mombasa port

By WACHIRA MWANGI
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President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived at the port of Mombasa to flag off the inaugural shipment of Kenya's crude oil on Monday.

The country will export 200,000 barrels of the Turkana crude marking its entry into the league of oil-exporting countries.

Celsius Riga, the vessel to ship Kenya's crude oil at the port of Mombasa on August 26, 2019. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The oil is valued at Sh1.3 billion based on the international crude oil prices of about $63 (Sh6,500) per barrel.

The small-scale export is intended to test the international markets’ reception of Kenya’s low-sulphur oil ahead of commercial production, which is estimated to start in the second half of 2023.

Principal Secretaries Dr Julius Muia of National Treasury (left) and Petroleum's Andrew Kamau at the port of Mombasa ahead of the flagging off of Kenya's first crude oil shipment on August 26, 2019. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

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British oil explorer Tullow has been moving the crude by road to Mombasa. It started moving about 600 barrels per day (bpd), but raised the volume to 2,000 in May.

President Kenyatta announced on August 1 that Kenya had struck a deal with an oil exporter but did not disclose the buyer.

President Uhuru Kenyatta arrives at the Port of Mombasa for the official flagging off of the inaugural shipment of Kenya's first crude oil export on August 26, 2019. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho (left) and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary John Munyes at the Port of Mombasa for the official flagging off of the inaugural shipment of Kenya's first crude oil export on August 26, 2019. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP