The Kenyan government and Tullow Oil agreed to resume oil field operations in Turkana county, weeks after the company halted operations following security concerns and unrest by the locals.
Kenyan government and Tullow Oil senior officials met mid-week and discussed on the current impasse fronted by Turkana locals.
According to a statement issued by Petroleum and Mining Ministry, Kenya government and Tullow Oil agreed that operations of the ongoing oil exploration and development in northern Kenyan county of Turkana to commence without further delay.
Commercial quantities of crude oil in South Lokichar Basin in Turkana were discovered in 2012. Tullow Oil Company has continued with its exploration and oil drilling operations in Kenya.
Early June, Kenya sent first trucks to transport crude oil from the oil-rich by landlocked Turkana County to Mombasa port for the country’s first oil exports as part of a pilot export scheme. Under this oil pilot scheme, 2,000 barrels per day were to be transported from Turkana to Mombasa by road and then shipped.
In July, Tullow Oil halted all operations in its Turkana oil field over increased security fears and hostility by the locals.
Tulllow Oil will now resume operations after government intervention. The government agreed to establish a two-tier system frame that will provide Turkana locals and Tullow Oil with ways for addressing any budding issues and concerns.
The Government of Kenya is committed to foster a harmonious, sustainable, stable and secure operating environment with regard to all operations around the oil, gas and mineral sectors in the Republic of Kenya, the Ministry statement retaliated.
The UK petroleum explorer, Tullow Oil Company has registered successes in its endeavors following more oil proceeds discovery at the Amosing, Twiga, Etuko, Ekales-1, Agete, Ewoi, Ekunyuk, Etom, Erut and Emekuya oil in South Lokichar Basin, Turkana County of Kenya.
