This archive report was first published on 6 January 2022.
January 6, 2022, marked a significant day for Kenya's economy as President Uhuru Kenyatta and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang inspected and tested the Sh50 billion Kipevu oil terminal at the port of Mombasa.
The offshore facility, built by China Communication Construction Company and sponsored by the Kenya Ports Authority, boasts a modern design with four berths, each 770 meters long, and a workboat wharf at the Westmont area for landing facilities.
According to Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director John Mwangemi, the new facility offers numerous benefits to the region's economies, including improved cargo handling and reduced freight costs.
One of the key features of the terminal is its ability to accommodate up to four boats at once, a significant improvement over the old facility, which could only handle one boat at a time.
During the inspection, Wang and Kenyatta also highlighted the terminal's advanced infrastructure, including five sub-sea pipelines buried 26 meters under the seabed and dedicated risers connecting the terminal to Kenya pipeline storage tanks and KPRL.
Wang's two-day visit to Kenya also saw the signing of six bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding aimed at fostering relations between the two countries.
Among the agreements signed was a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a working group to address tariffs and non-tariff barriers between the two countries, aimed at promoting trade and reducing the trade deficit.
Additionally, China donated 10,000 tonnes of rice to families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, a gesture that highlights the strong ties between the two nations.
