President Uhuru Kenyatta and Uganda President Yoweri Museveni will meet in two weeks to harmonise talks between the two states on the regional East African Crude Oil export pipeline.
The two Heads of State met on Monday in Nairobi together with Uganda’s oil producers – Irish company Tullow Oil, French company Total and China’s Uganda’s oil producers – Irish company Tullow Oil, French company Total and China’s CNOC on options of constructing the pipeline from Hoimaon Lake Albert through Kenyan “Northern Route’ through the oil fields of Lokichar; the Kenyan ‘Southern Route’ through the town of Nakuru.
In construction of the pipeline, Kenya favours the “northern route” because as part of the Lamu Port, South Sudan, Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project, it would transform infrastructure and the way of life of the people in the towns and counties across its path.
The scheduled meeting according to Mr. Manoah Esipisu, the State House Spokesperson:
- Ensuring a least cost option for a regional integrated pipeline;
- Address constructability issues along all routes – existing and planned infrastructure, terrain and elevations,
- Assessing and confirming the current proven reserves which will have an impact on the size of the pipeline and
- Viability of the ports of Lamu, Mombasa and Tanga as export options.
The Monday meeting comes in the wake of a $4 billion agreement between Tanzania and Uganda to build a crude pipeline linking their countries.