Posted on :Saturday , 5th September 2015
The first designs for the construction of the Kipevu oil terminal in Mombasa are on the final stages so as to pave way for the tendering process; this is according to the Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director, Gichiri Ndua.
The Kipevu oil terminal which is supposed to be relocated is being overseen by Danish consultancy firm Niras.
“We have engaged a consultant who is finalizing the construction designs in regard to the planned relocation of the Kipevu oil terminal,” Ndua said.
KPA principal communication officer Hajj Masemo also said that the project is part of the Mombasa port infrastructure development.
“Everything is on course. Once we internalize the designs, we move to tendering and construction which is expected to commence by end of this year,” said Masemo. Last year, according to the Kenya Economic Survey 2015, Kenya imported petroleum products worth Sh292.6 billion up from Sh252.7 billion the previous year.
The construction project which is expected to expand Kenya’s petroleum handling and storage capacity by almost 400 per cent will be complete in 2018; it will allow four large tankers of up to 150,000 tonnes to berth at the same time.
This is such a key venture since Kenya is an important port of entry for bulk fuel importation among other imports into the hinterland, mainly in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo.
Kenya presently has two oil terminals one at Kipevu located on the mainland Port Reitz which can accommodate a single vessel of up to 100,000 tonnes at a time and the other one at Shimanzi that can take in a 30,000-tonne vessel at a time.