KENYAN CRUDE OIL EXTRACTION AND EXPORT POSTPONED AGAIN

The failure of the EOPS scheme has forced the Kenya government and British firm Tullow Oil to contemplate investing $3 million to build tanks in Turkana to store the crude until such a time that it becomes possible to export it.

Uncertainty continues to dog Kenya’s Early Oil Pilot scheme (EOPS) as it becomes apparent that a plan to start small-scale oil exportation next month is not feasible.

The failure of the scheme has forced the Kenya government and British firm Tullow Oil to contemplate investing $3 million to build tanks in Turkana to store the crude until such a time that it becomes possible to export it.

Barely a fortnight after Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter said the government would start the scheme in December, exporting crude via road to Mombasa has proved impractical after the collapse of a critical bridge on the Lokichar-Eldoret road.

The Kainuk Bridge, which straddles the Turkwel River and connects Turkana and Pokot Counties, was recently destroyed by floodwater, making it impossible to move the crude.