David Chirchir: Kenya’s Oil Deposit May Cross 1-Billion Barrels

This must be some good news for Kenya. According to the minister for Energy and Petroleum Mr David Chirchir, the country’s recoverable oil reserves in it’s tertiary rift basin are likely to exceed one billion barrels.

Tullow oil recently discovered and drilled four oil wells in Lokichar sub-basin raising the country’s recoverable oil reserves from 300 million barrels to 600 million, David Chirchir said on Friday.

“However, with further appraisal drilling which is currently on going, the recoverable reserves are likely to be in excess of billion barrels in the Tertiary Rift Basin alone,” Chirchir said in a statement.

“These positive developments indicate that Kenya could become a significant oil producer,” Chirchir said.

In readiness for the commercialisation of the oil, the ministry is fast tracking the construction of the Uganda-Kenya oil crude pipeline noting that construction of a new Nairobi to Mombasa oil pipeline will be completed in the next 18 months.