This archive report was first published on 15 January 2020.
Published on January 15, 2020
British oil explorer Tullow Oil has suspended the transport of crude oil from Turkana to Mombasa until further notice.
The suspension, which began late last year, is due to severe damage to roads caused by heavy rains in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Tullow uses about 100 specialized tankers to move 2,000 barrels of oil per day over 1,000 kilometers.
The extended suspension is likely to affect the government's shipment target of 500,000 barrels of oil.
Crude oil transportation by road was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in June 2018, but has faced several challenges since then, including protests by communities in Turkana and financial difficulties faced by Tullow.
Despite these challenges, Tullow's executive chair, Dorothy Thompson, expressed optimism about the company's long-term potential and its ability to improve operational performance and reduce costs.
