Wandayi: Oil production to start before year ends

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary  Opiyo Wandayi has assured the country that oil production from Lokichar South Basin will start before the end of this year.

Speaking during the historic ground-breaking ceremony marking the beginning of oil field development operations at South Lokichar Basin, Wandayi said the residents, county and national governments will work alongside Gulf Energy to ensure the success of the project.

The groundbreaking milestone implies that Gulf Energy can now kickstart full-scale operations, including the deployment of rigs, prospecting and drilling of new boreholes.

 It is expected that the first consignment of crude Oil will be ready for export by the first week of December 2026.

"It has taken long for the production of oil, we must thank the president for ensuring the oil resource is going to become a reality and benefit the country," said the Cabinet secretary.

He said the government had started a security operation to address insecurity, which has been cited as a major challenge facing the project.

Another challenge is water. Wandayi said the Kenya Defence Force will be deployed to ensure water from Turkwell dam benefits residents of Turkana and West Pokot counties.

East African Affairs, regional development and arid and semi-arid lands,  Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Askul said an inclusive approach would be used to address issues raised by local communities, especially in Turkana South and Turkana East.

She urged the local community to support the new investor and reiterated the commitment of President Ruto in reviving the local economy and re-opening employment opportunities in the area through this project.

On his part, Deputy Governor John Erus said the County Government will push for structured talks with Gulf Energy on revenue sharing from oil and gas operations in the South Lokichar Basin.

Erus confirmed that plans are underway to form a special committee to engage the firm on the matter.

He spoke at Amosing during the groundbreaking ceremony for Gulf Energy’s oil and gas operations, where he accompanied Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and EAC and ASALs CS Beatrice Askul to the event, which was also attended by senior national and county officials, elected leaders, community leaders and residents.

“We are forming an all-inclusive committee with leaders, technical staff and professionals to hold structured talks with Gulf Energy on revenue sharing and the provisions of the Oil Field Development Plan.

We have already held an initial consultative meeting on the same,” Erus said.

He said the county expects the talks to address residents’ concerns on economic opportunities, infrastructure development, environmental protection and emerging issues.

“What we are witnessing today is part of coordinated actions by the President to transform Turkana. As we break ground for oil operations, technical teams have, in the last two weeks, been assessing other pledges made by the President,” he said.

The event was also addressed by County Commissioner Julius Kavita and representatives of professional associations, the council of elders, elected leaders and the community.