Kenya Pipeline Issues Statement on the Acute Fuel Shortage

Motorists queue for petrol fuel at National Oil in Nyamira town.
Motorists queue for petrol fuel at National Oil in Nyamira town.
Kenya News Agency

The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has issued a statement on the current acute fuel shortage in most parts of the country.

In the statement dated Saturday, April 2, KPC stated that the country has enough oil stock across all its depots, adding that the stock is enough to sustain the country.

"KPC's current stock position in all their facilities as of Saturday, March 2 noon indicates that there are over 69 million litres of super petrol, more than 94 million litres of diesel, more than 13 million litres of kerosene and over 23 million litres of jet fuel available," Kenya Pipeline stated.

Kenya Pipeline Company.
A Kenya Pipeline Company fuel reservoir.
Photo
KPC

KPC Managing Director, Macharia Irungu, dispelled reports that the country was facing an acute fuel shortage which has triggered panic buying.

Macharia further disclosed that the country has received more supply that is yet to be discharged at the port of Mombasa.

"Our global stock holding is adequate to serve the region, with more ships in Mombasa queued for discharge," Macharia explained.

This comes even as motorists in most parts of the country continued to grapple with the shortage. Some explained that they were turned away from fuel stations as some dealers resolved to ration the product.

Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) had earlier released a statement attributing the fuel shortage to logistic constraints.

"Reference is made to the ongoing reported shortage of petroleum products in parts of North Rift and Western Kenya. The shortage is occasioned by unprecedented logistical constraints. These challenges have caused independent petroleum dealers to run out of petroleum stocks," read part of the statement.

"We assure the public that there are enough fuel supplies in the country and that there should be no cause to panic."

Since the February fuel price review, most parts of the country have experienced shortages with some motorists in the border towns of Busia and Malaba crossing over to the neighbouring Uganda to refill their vehicles.

EPRA hiked the prices with super petrol retailing at Ksh134.72  per litre while diesel goes for Ksh115.60 at pump prices.

Oil marketers on the hand blamed the failure by the government to provide subsidies to fuel scarcity.

An aerial photo showing motorists lining up for fuel at a fuel Station in Kileleshwa on Saturday, April 2, 2022.
An aerial photo showing motorists lining up for fuel at a fuel Station in Kileleshwa on Saturday, April 2, 2022.
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