Energy CS nominee Wandayi vows to revive Tullow Oil project in Turkana

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary nominee Opiyo Wandayi has committed himself to reviving the stalled Tullow Oil project in Turkana.

"This project is not dead. It could have taken a break but I have taken it upon myself if I am appointed to ensure that it is revived because Tullow Oil is on the ground. What it lacks is the requisite financial capacity to be able to commercially develop the oil reserves in the South Lokichar basin," he said when he appeared before the Committee on Appointments on Saturday for vetting.

Wandayi said he will work closely with the Multinational Oil and Gas exploration company under the guidance of the Attorney General to source a strategic partner who can bring in some financial capital to complete the project.

"Time is of the essence, Mr Speaker, Kenya is a signatory to the Paris Agreement on carbon emissions and if you recall, the outcome of the conference on climate change Cop 27 in Egypt in 2022, if we don't move with speed and extract this oil in Turkana, we may be time-barred because we shall face serious restrictions including even restrictions from potential financiers because the world is moving steadily from fossil fuels to clean energy and Kenya is not an Island. Therefore, I am going to treat this matter of Tullow Oil and the oil in the South Lokichar basin with utmost urgency," he added.

The British company began oil exploration in Turkana county in 2012 acquiring a 50 per cent interest in several exploration license blocks which covered Turkana, Marsabit and Baringo before making a crude oil discovery in the South Lokichar basin at Ngamia 1 well.

After suffering financial setbacks, Tullow retained its 50 per cent stake and received financial backing from two partners Total Energies and Africa Oil each of which acquired a 25 per cent stake each in the South Lokichar Basin.

The extraction plans, however, stalled again in May 2023 when the two exited the partnership leaving Tullow with full ownership of the oil blocks.

The discovery of the oil elicited excitement from the government and the country at large but more than a decade down the line, the country is yet to reap benefits from the commodity.

In September last year, the company remained bullish that the commercial viability extraction phase will see Kenya extract and export a minimum of 120,000 barrels of crude oil to both regional and global refineries.

It said it had submitted its development plan to formally commence extraction of the crude oil to the Ministry of Energy in 2021 but two years on, there was no response from the government.

In April this year, the firm said it would make its first commercial export of oil in 2028 if it secures a strategic partner to help finance the project