Africa’s largest oil terminal, at the port of Mombasa, is expected to be completed in April and operational in July, according to Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta. Kenyatta made the announcement after inspecting the works with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday.
The terminal’s $350m jetty, which is currently 96% complete, was funded by Kenya Ports Authority and built by China Communications Construction Company.
The 770m jetty will be capable of handling tankers of up to 200,000 deadweight tonnes, carrying all categories of petroleum products including crude oil, white oils and liquefied petroleum gas.
According to Kenyatta, the terminal will ensure price stability of oil products and will handle exports from the Turkana field in the northwest of the country, which this year is expected to begin producing up to 100,000 barrels a day.
He said: “Once complete, the facility will be able to reduce not only the cost of fuel but also to ensure that Kenya is able to consistently have an adequate supply of fuel for our needs and development needs of our people.
“This terminal will result in the saving of almost 2 billion Kenyan shillings ($18m) that we are currently paying every year because of demurrage occasioned by the long queues of vessels parked outside our harbour waiting to discharge their product.”
The jetty will replace the 50-year old onshore Kipevu Oil Terminal.
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