KPC to shorten testing time for petroleum products in lab
Business
By
Macharia Kamau
| Feb 06, 2024
Kenya Pipeline Company today received the go-ahead to test petroleum products across its laboratories, a move that is expected to see the firm now undertake testing of fuel internally and reduce the time taken from a day to just six hours.
The company has to date been outsourcing most of the testing to the Swiss testing and inspection from SGS but has now received accreditation from the Kenya National Audit Service (Kenas) for its six labs spread out along the pipeline route, which will now enable it to conduct the tests at its laboratories.
This will reduce the amount of time that ships have to wait before they start discharging petroleum products being imported to the country.
READ MORE
Kenya out to increase its participation at LA28
Initiative to upskill youth in construction sector launched
Cyril Maloba: The math teacher who refused to stop
Knec call for KCSE candidates as curtain falls on 8-4-4 education system
'A criminal act of the State,' Orengo says of Lichuma torture claims
From Kenya to Zambia: Kenyan firm wins role in school meals overhaul
'Mr Speaker Sir' freed on Sh100,000 bond in Sh41m Parliament damage case
Teacher completes 45-hour math marathon, shattering Guinness World Record
AG Dorcas Oduor defends JKIA renovation contract amid transparency concerns
Delays experienced before a ship discharges the imported fuel into the KPC tanks in Mombasa usually attract a fee referred to as demurrage and this is regarded as a prudently incurred cost by the importing oil marketing company and passed on to consumers.
"We have been testing products outside our depots with SGS and this normally takes 24 hours, with this accreditation, the turnaround time will be about six hours," said Joe Sang, managing director KPC.
"We are also planning to commercialise the laboratory services to entities such as the Kenya Bureau of Standards and other organisations including private sector players and this will mean an additional revenue stream for KPC."
Sang further disclosed that the state-run pipeline company has been spending Sh20 million annually on outsourcing the service. The company has seven testing sites, two in Mombasa and another two in Nairobi as well as in Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisumu.
"Oil marketing companies will be able to test their products at the point of convenience at our depots in the different towns and cities," said Sang.
Kenas said the accreditation it issued to KPC was the largest multi-site accreditation in Eastern Africa.