Parliament wants unoperational refineries company dissolved

Business
By Patrick Beja | May 07, 2024
Oil storage tanks at the Kenya Petroleum Refineries site at Changamwe in Mombasa County. [File, Standard]

A parliamentary committee has recommended that Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL), which ceased operations about 10 years ago, be dissolved before the end of this year.

The Public Investment Committee on Commercial and Energy Affairs on Monday told Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir to expedite the dissolution of the KPRL and its Mombasa oil storage tanks and employees be handed over to Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).

According to the committee's chairman David Pkosing, KPC pays KPRL Sh1.3 billion annually for the use of its storage facilities, which is unnecessary.

"We recommend that KPRL be dissolved before the end of the year to save Sh1.3 billion paid by KPC. The savings can go towards lowering the cost of petroleum in the country," Pkosing said during the committee's meeting at Serena Beach Hotel in Mombasa.

He said the recommendation followed audit queries from the auditor general over the payment of taxpayers' money to the dormant public firm amid the high cost of fuel.

KPC has been seeking to take over 45 storage tanks with a capacity of 484 million litres belonging to the KPRL at Changamwe, for use to store oil products.

KPC wants to increase its storage capacity following the commissioning of the new Kipevu Oil Terminal 2, which has increased volumes of imported oil.

Pkosing told KPC to formulate a policy on waivers given to oil marketers in the country to stop corruption or discrimination among them.

Share this story
Jambojet expands fleet with revamped aircraft
Jambojet has expanded its fleet to nine aircraft following the return of its first-ever Dash 8-400, registration 5Y-JXA.
Private sector calls for media collaboration on sustainability, social impact
The media has been urged to increase coverage of impactful, development and sustainability stories in a rapidly changing world. 
Ruto meets Embu leaders, pledges to enhance muguka returns
The President pointed out that muguka is a scheduled crop under the Kenyan law and therefore enjoys legal and State protection
Turaco and ASA International sign partnership deal to ease access to African market
The partnership is expected to significantly contribute to raising insurance penetration in Africa from the current 2 per cent to double digits.
Brookside invests Sh112m in cooling tanks to reduce post-harvest milk losses
Brookside Dairy announced Thursday that it has acquired raw milk cooling tanks worth Sh112 million as part of its upstream value addition strategy.
.
RECOMMENDED NEWS