The ongoing Mombasa – Nairobi oil pipeline construction[Photo| The star ]
The Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) will now be targeting 100 percent of oil transportation from Mombasa to Nairobi once the Sh48 billion Mombasa-Nairobi pipeline project is completed.
According to the KPC managing director, Joe Sang', 80 percent of fuel is currently being transported through the pipelines while the other 20 percent is transported by tankers via the roads.
Mr. Sang' added that pumping of fuel products through the pipes will aid to reduce accidents that occur on roads involving the oil tankers.
"Accidents that have occurred involving oil tankers have caused loss of dozens of lives so we want to make sure that we pump fuel products and do away with road transport,” said Sang.
He also noted that the project is 95 percent complete with the contractor finalizing on the works at the Changamwe pumping station.
The project is being constructed by the Zakem International Construction and has seen the replacement of the current 10 inch pipes with the new 20 inch pipes.
The pipeline's flow rate has been divided into three phases such that, one million litres of oil will be flowing per hour by 2017.The phase two will have a capacity of 1,863,000 liters per hour and will be ready by 2023.
The last phase will have a flow rate of 2,638,000 liters per hour and will be ready by 2044.
Mr Sang' also said that they have doubled the storage capacity of oil in Nairobi from 100 million litres to 233 million litres which will ensure the local demand is met and the extra amount exported. The pipeline will be launched by December this year.