“We reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment, as the gateway, to service the fuel needs of the region and discussed ways of enhancing cooperation through joint and complementary projects that accelerate regional integration,” said Dr Juma in an update.
Business Daily has not obtained additional details of the deal by press time.
Uganda, which accounts for 75 percent of fuel transported through Kenya, had wanted guarantees of monthly provision of 110,660 cubic metres of petrol and 110,400 cubic metres of diesel. Further, it demanded a fixed allocation of 12,000 cubic metres of aviation fuel.
“We are hopeful that some of these action areas could enable us to address petroleum product supply problems in Uganda,” Ugandan Permanent Secretary Irene Batebe had said last month in a letter to her counterpart in Kenya, Andrew Kamau. Both Ms Batebe and Mr Kamau attended the talks.
1/Today I received Hon Sidronious Okaasai Minister of State for Energy of the Republic of Uganda accompanied by Ms. Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary and Rev. John Tukwasiibwe - Commisioner, Petroleum Supply at my office in Kawi complex. pic.twitter.com/1s8EDE8IWT
— Amb. Dr. Monica Juma (@AmbMonicaJuma) May 17, 2022
Ms Batebe had said the demands came after a meeting by oil marketers operating in Kampala linked the fuel supply crisis facing the country to inadequate allocations from Kenya.
Uganda also wanted its oil marketing firms to continue being supplied under the open tender system through their sister companies in Kenya. In addition, all Ugandan oil firms are to be allowed to load from Nairobi and other terminals, given the low capacity in western Kenya.
Kenya, a net importer of fuel, has also struggled with its own supply issues.
Oil marketers traditionally allocate 65 percent of their fuel imports to the local market and 35 percent to the transit market.
A number of the marketers increased the share of fuel they sell to the neighbouring countries to over 60 percent to ease their cash crunch, given that they are paid instantly, unlike in Kenya where the State compensation, through the fuel subsidy, delays.
John Tukwasiibwe, the Ugandan Commissioner in charge of Petroleum Supply, also attended the Nairobi talks.
