Kenya hangs on to its hope of finding oil wells

By?barnabas bii bbii@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted? Monday, December 26? 2011?at? 18:33

Discovery of oil in Uganda two years ago brought major oil prospecting companies back to Kenya, keen to determine if the black gold deposits exist in the country.

Hopes of Kenya striking it rich were dampened in 2009 when the China National Offshore Oil Corporation announced its exit from local oil exploration. It was the only cash-flush firm in the region at the time.

By the time it left, the company had drilled its 32nd well in the Anza basin of Isiolo District. Its exit dashed hopes of the country striking oil or gas.

Kenya?s hopes were revived after Tullow eventually struck oil near Lake Albert in Uganda in 2009 because the surrounding regions have similar geological structures, especially Kalabata Basin in Turkana County.

Australia?s Woodside Energy is among several international companies that have been keen on the search for oil and gas in the country. Others listed on the New York and London Stock exchanges are Premier Oil and Apache Oil.?

In September, French multinational Total acquired a 40 per cent stake in five blocks within the Lamu Basin from Anadarko Kenya Company Cove Energy with the brief of accelerating exploration work.

By April 2011, Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi was optimistic that other international oil companies were likely to rush in if oil or gas were discovered in Isiolo.

But by the end of the year, hopes of oil being found in the area plummeted and the focus shifted to Turkana.

Tullow set up base at Lokichar and Nakukulas in Lokichar basin, Turkana East County.

A drilling rig and associated equipment for oil prospecting were mobilised at the Nakukulus site by mid-2011.

According to a report released by Tullow, drilling at the well site code-named Ngamia-1 was to commence before the end of the year and last for two-and-a-half months.

The report says the drilling would be a static, non-intrusive operation closely regulated and monitored by the National Environment Management Authority.

The company began by constructing a road linking Lokichar trading centre in Turkana South and Lokori in Turkana East to facilitate transport.

It is not clear when the company will start work to find out if Kenya has any oil deposits.

?The community and the country at large stand to benefit if oil is discovered in the region since it will result in an improved economy,? said Mr Daniel Obolla, the Turkana East District commissioner.

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5665692710

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