Kenya flags off her first crude oil shipment bound for China
Mombasa, Kenya (26th August) – President Uhuru Kenyatta today flagged of Kenya’s very first Crude Oil shipment of 200,000 barrels valued at Ksh 1.2 Billion. The inaugural shipment bound for China marked Kenya’s entry into a prestigious league of Oil exporting nations.
The President said that through the Mediterranean Shipping Company, the Kenya National Shipping Line will gain access to more than 500 ports across the World which will enable the country to Ship Oil and other exports.
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Reiterating his administration’s commitment to ensuring that local communities are major beneficiaries of this resource, the president said that this new prosperity will unlock up to 50,000 new jobs.
“This prosperity must, however, be jealously protected, we will ensure that Kenya’s natural resources are utilized in a manner that yields maximum dividends but without compromising the interest of future generations,” he said.
He, however, warned that DCI will closely watch port operations to ensure that the Oil proceeds are not misappropriated by corrupt individuals with ulterior motives.
“We have also committed as a government to upgrade the Leseru-Lokichar road and modification work at Kenya Pipeline and refinery Company to support this early oil pilot scheme,” said Kenyatta.
He was speaking at the Port of Mombasa where the inaugural Shipment was flagged off.
