Kenya Thursday joined the league of oil exporting countries after striking a deal of 200,000 barrels worth Sh1.3 billion.
“We are now an oil exporter. Our first deal was concluded this afternoon with 200,000 barrels at a price of $12 million,” President Uhuru Kenyatta announced.
He expressed confidence that the oil trade would help grow the economy and end poverty.
“So, I think we have started the journey and it is up to us to ensure that those resources are put to the best use to make our country both prosperous and to ensure we eliminate poverty,” a statement from State House after a Cabinet meeting quoted President Kenyatta as saying.
Kenya pumped 200,000 barrels of crude oil worth Sh1.3 billion as the country geared up to make its first, small-scale export.
The oil production statistics were disclosed by London-based Tullow Oil, which has exploration and oilfields in Turkana.
“(Some) 200,000 barrels of oil have been safely delivered to Mombasa. Tullow expects East Africa’s first export cargo of oil to be sold and lifted in the third quarter of 2019,” the multinational said in its trading update.
The oil stocks were valued at Sh1.3 billion based on the international crude oil prices of about $63 (Sh6,500) per barrel.
The export is intended to test the international markets’ reception of Kenya’s low-sulphur oil ahead of commercial production, which is estimated to start in the second half of 2023.
