This archive report was first published on 7 January 2020.
January 7, 2020, marked a significant day for Kisumu Port as it made its first oil shipment to Uganda, a positive outcome from its revamp. The consignment contained 22 wagons loaded with 894,000 liters of diesel.
The fuel was shipped using the Kenya Railway line and the refurbished MV Uhuru ferry to the Uganda harbour of Port Bell, reviving activity at the facility that had been dormant for more than two decades.
According to Kenya Pipeline Company Kisumu depot manager James Kimaiyos, 'We loaded the product at our Kisumu depot before it was taken by rail and loaded into the vessel (MV Uhuru) for shipment to Uganda.'
Uganda's fuel imports as of mid-September 2018 stood at 85 million litres, with 92% of petroleum products imported through the port of Mombasa. The country's demand for oil grows at 7% per annum.
The revamp of Kisumu Port, which cost approximately KSh700 million, will enable the facility to handle both containerized and conventional cargo, with a carrying capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes. This will boost regional trade within the East African Community and create employment opportunities.
