The government is set to expand the Kisumu Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) depot to accommodate more volumes.
This plan was announced by Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, who assured of the Ministry's expansion commitment with plans to build new storage tanks capable of handling larger volumes of products.
This expansion, Wandayi said, will not only cater to growing domestic demand but will also open new trade avenues within Kenya's East African neighbors, such as Rwanda.
The Kisumu Oil Jetty, constructed in 2018 and officially operational since December 2022, has already made significant strifes in reshaping petroleum distribution in East Africa.
So far, Wandayi noted that the Jetty has successfully evacuated 290 million liters of oil products from Kisumu to Entebbe, Uganda.
This development, he explained, has had a substantial impact on reducing the numbers of trucks on the road, cutting down on traffic congestion, and lowering the maintenance cost of the critical road network.
"This is a tremendous achievement. We have managed to remove hundreds of trucks from the roads that would otherwise have been transporting goods from Kisumu to Kampala and beyond", the CS said during a tour of the Kisumu Pipeline Depot and the Kisumu Oil Jetty.
He added, "This means fewer road accidents, less traffic congestion, and reduced wear and tear on our infrastructure."
The CS also addressed the broader vision of transforming Kenya into a regional energy hub, highlighting the importance of the extended pipeline and Jetty systems.
"We are looking at a very bright future," he said, noting that plans to extend the pipeline from Kisumu to Eldoret, Kampala, and Kigali would boost the country's ability to generate revenue from petroleum products.
This, he said, was not just about improving infrastructure but also expanding their reach, creating new business opportunities, and reinforcing Kenya's position as a key player on the regional petroleum value chain.
Wandayi also took the opportunity to applaud the cooperation between Kenya and its East African neighbors, particularly Uganda, noting that the reduction of non-tariff barriers and the commitment to free trade have created a positive environment for business.
Under the leadership of President William Ruto, the CS noted that the government has prioritized facilitating the free movement of goods from Mombasa to the borders of Uganda, ensuring that the flow of goods remains uninterrupted.
Under the leadership of President William Ruto, the Cs noted that the government has prioritized facilitating the free movement of goods from Mombasa to the borders of Uganda, ensuring that the flow of goods remain uninterrupted.
"The barriers that once hindered free trade are a thing of the past. The President is committed to ensuring the seamless movement of goods, and that assurance should give our regional partners confidence in Kenya's commitment to supporting their countries needs.".
