Kenya revives oil exploration amid long-standing Turkana project challenges

Kenya is ramping up efforts to harness its oil and gas resources, unveiling a comprehensive strategy to overcome setbacks tied to the stalled Tullow Oil-led Turkana project, the Standard reported on January 20.

Government plans include acquiring geoscientific data and conducting geological surveys over 3,600 square kilometres to locate untapped hydrocarbon reserves. Evaluations will also focus on gas potential in petroleum Blocks 9, L4, and L8, which span Marsabit, Garissa, Lamu and Kilifi counties.

The initiative aims to secure land for essential infrastructure such as pipelines and water supply systems to advance the South Lokichar oilfields development. This push signals a renewed determination to establish Kenya as an oil-producing country, despite years of delays.

Kenya’s renewed energy exploration is part of a wider trend across Africa, where nations are seeking to unlock hydrocarbon resources to drive economic growth and reduce energy import reliance. As global energy demands evolve, Kenya seeks to position itself as a key player in Africa’s energy landscape, leveraging natural resources to boost development and energy security.

Tullow Oil, a London-listed exploration firm, discovered the Turkana oil fields in 2012, with initial estimates pointing to commercially viable reserves. However, the project has remained uncommercialised, with TotalEnergies and Africa Oil, former stakeholders, exiting the project two years ago due to delays. This left Tullow to seek new strategic partners to advance the project.

In September 2023, Tullow Oil commenced the commercial exploration stage for the Turkana project, planning to extract and export high-standard crude oil for a minimum of 25 years, Citizen Digital reported on September 26, 2023.

Efforts to secure further investors encountered setbacks when Indian Oil Corporation and ONGC Videsh withdrew from negotiations to acquire a 50% stake in the Lokichar oilfields. With insufficient capital to fund the $3.4bn project, including pipeline construction and processing facilities, Kenya’s oil export ambitions have faced a significant stall.