Fate of the Kenya-Uganda oil pipeline to be known in April

Friday, 01 April 2016 06:43

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni will meet in Kampala in a week’s time to deliberate on the technical presentations by Kenyan and Ugandan energy officials on options of constructing the pipeline through Kenya.

This comes after the initial meeting held earlier last week seemed to end in a stalemate.The two leaders heard technical presentations on options of constructing the pipeline from Hoima on lake Albert through Kenyan “northern route” through the oil fields of Lokichar, the Kenyan “southern route” through Nakuru with a loop to Lokichar, and finally through Hoima to Tanga in Tanzania.

However the two leaders asked the technical teams to harmonize their presentations to focus on ensuring a least-cost option for a regional integrated pipeline, addressing constructability issues along all routes, and existing and planned infrastructure, terrain and elevations. They also want an assessment and confirmation of the current proven reserves which will have an impact on the size of the pipeline and the viability of the ports of Lamu, Mombasa and Tanga as export options.