Kenya is yet to commence on the construction of a new offshore crude oil and refined fuel jetty in October this year, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has announced.

The new jetty is anticipated to increase efficiency in delivery of refined fuel that is imported for Kenya’s domestic use and exported to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

KPA head of procurement Yobesh Oyaro confirmed the news and said that Denmark-based Niras will supervise on the construction of the new terminal that will replace the existing facility near berth 19 container terminal.

“Denmark-based Niras will supervise on the construction of the new terminal that will replace the existing facility near berth 19 container terminal,” Oyaro said.

KPA which plans to build the jetty will construct it near Dongo Kundu from October to December 2019 and it will handle bigger tankers and hence relocate the existing Kipevu Oil Terminal from Port Reitz.

Oyaro further pointed out that relocation from Port Reitz to an offshore site will allow offloading of tankers with a capacity of 170,000 tonnes and this will improve the efficiency of the port and help in meeting the region’s growing demand for refined oil products.

The new island terminal will be advantageous since it will have four berths capable of facilitating import and export of crude oil, heavy fuel oil, dual purpose kerosene, diesel and petrol and is projected to make Mombasa Sea port a major trading hub.

The terminal will also comprise of a crude oil pipeline that will connect it to the Changamwe-based Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd (KPRL).

Kenya Ports Authority is a state corporation with the responsibility to maintain, operate, improve and regulate all scheduled seaports on the Indian Ocean coastline of Kenya, including mainly Kilindini Harbour at Mombasa.