Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah M. Barasa has assured Parliament that firm environmental and public health measures have been put in place for the proposed oil development in the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana County. Appearing before a joint sitting of the Senate Committee on Energy and the National Assembly Committee on Energy, she presented a detailed report on environmental approvals, safety standards and plans for site closure covering Blocks T6 and T7.
Barasa informed lawmakers that Tullow Oil Kenya B.V. submitted the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the South Lokichar Upstream Oil Development Project in September 2021. She said the assessment was reviewed in line with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act.
The ministry confirmed that the National Environment Management Authority issued an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment licence for the project on October 28, 2025.
Barasa explained that the approval allows for production of up to 130,000 barrels of oil per day over a 25 year period. The plan covers six oil fields Amosing, Ngamia, Twiga, Ekales, Agete and Etom within a 1,500 hectare project area.
‘’The scope for the licensed ESIA was for production capacity of 130,000 barrels of oil per day over a 25-year period comprising six oil fields with wellpads, infield connecting infrastructure, Central Hub, Central Processing Facility (CPF) Integrated Waste management Facility and Engineered Landfill associated facilities and amenities within the six oil fields: Amosing, Ngamia, Twiga, Ekales, Agete, and Etom located within 1,500Ha of defined project footprint in the South Lokichar Basin Blocks 10BB and 13T, Turkana County.’’ Barasa said.
However, she noted that the Field Development Plan now before the government proposes a phased rollout under a new contractor, Gulf Energy Limited. The updated plan reduces initial output and sets a new timeline for first oil.
Barasa added, ‘’The Currently tabled FDP has taken a phased approach with the new contractor, Gulf Energy Limited projecting a production rate of 20,000 barrels per day (BPD) in phase 1 and 50,000 BPD in phase II with an expected first Oil date in December 2026.’’
She further told the committees that crude oil from South Lokichar will in the early stages be moved by road and or rail to Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited for storage and handling before export through Kipevu Oil Terminal II. This marks a shift from the earlier plan that proposed construction of the Lokichar Export Facility and transportation of crude through the Lokichar Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline to Lamu Port.
‘’The produced crude oil in South Lokichar will be transported by road and/or rail for storage and handling at Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL) and subsequently exported through Kipevu Oil Terminal II. This is a material deviation from the licensed design concept of establishing a Lokichar Export Facility (LEF) and transporting the crude oil via the Lokichar–Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline (LLCOP) for export at Lamu Port.’’ Barasa said.
Due to this change, Gulf Energy has been instructed to formally transfer the existing ESIA licence from Tullow Oil and to carry out a supplementary environmental review. The additional assessment will address the revised project design, including the safety and health concerns linked to transporting crude by road or rail.
“The road and/or rail transport that Gulf Energy has proposed is yet to be scrutinized through an ESIA process to ensure appropriate safeguard conditions are instituted to guarantee public health and safety,” the CS said.
NEMA Director General Mamo Mamo also addressed the joint sitting, assuring legislators that the regulator will strictly enforce licence conditions and approved environmental management plans.
‘’NEMA as the principal environmental regulator, shall enforce all EIA licence conditions and the approved Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) relating to decommissioning, site restoration, waste management, well abandonment, land rehabilitation, and post-closure environmental monitoring through compliance inspections, environmental audits, and issuance of enforcement and restoration orders where necessary.’’ Mamo said.
He added that NEMA will work with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority and county authorities to conduct routine inspections and audits. The agencies will also ensure oil spill prevention and emergency response plans are in place. In the event of an incident, the polluter pays principle will apply, meaning the responsible party must contain the spill, clean up, restore the site and provide compensation.
Barasa reiterated that a crude oil pipeline remains the safest and most suitable method of transport. She assured members of Parliament that any alternative system adopted will undergo full environmental review before it is approved.
