Kenya's crude oil pipeline project has been launched, and the National Environmental Administration (NEMA) has issued an invitation to the public to participate in the project. With the establishment of the completion schedule for this $1.2 billion pipeline, the crude oil pipeline project has revived.

The pipeline, known as the Lokichar Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline (LLCOP), will extend 892 kilometers and connect the Lokichar oil field in northern Kenya with the Lamu seaport in the south. It is expected to span six counties including Turkana, Samburu, Isiolo, Meru, Garissa and Lamu.

Delay slowed down the progress of the project

The crude oil pipeline is one of the main investment projects. It is expected to complement the Ethiopian project in the Port of South Sudan and open up half of northern Kenya, starting from Lamu and extending to Nakodok, which borders South Sudan. Its arterial branch line extends from Garissa. To Moyer.

However, in addition to the long-term challenges faced by the partners, the project also faced serious delays and forced them to postpone the deadline for the final investment decision in 2020.

The survey of the pipeline route started in July 2019, but there were delays in land acquisition and permits, which slowed the progress of the project. In June 2020, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) requested a redesign of the pipeline, claiming that the project was encroaching on its land, so the project faced an obstacle.

In response to these issues, after the Kenya Defense Forces and the Lapsset Corridor Development Authority held a meeting, the project partners modified the pipeline route.

The project is expected to be completed in June 2022, but was later revised to the second half of 2023.

The pipeline project was carried out under a joint partnership between the Kenyan government and the consortium of oil companies Tullow Oil Kenya BV, Africa Oil Turkana Ltd and Total Oil (formally Maersk Oil). According to the original plan, the pipeline is expected to be 18 inches, with a daily production capacity of 65,000 barrels, which can be expanded to 80,000 barrels.Editor/Huang Lijun