Tanzania has expressed concern over Nairobi’s refusal to allow its exporters to transport cooking gas to Kenya through Kenya-Tanzania land borders.
The Energy Regulatory Commission had earlier indicated that the ban was necessitated by quality verification challenges from the land imported LPG hence leaving Kenya to rely on certificates of quality from the load port.
A Policy directive by the Government of Kenya was then issued to designate Mombasa as the only import route for LPG effectively closing door on LPG from Tanzania.
The ban on gas imports from Tanzania may persist longer as the two countries fail to find a common ground to facilitate the lifting.
The ban that has lasted two months now means more than 4000 metric tons of Liquefied Petroleum Gas have been blocked from coming is since the country receives at least 2000metric tonnes of gas from the Namanga border point alone.
Tanzania has expressed concern over Nairobi’s refusal to allow its exporters to transport cooking gas to Kenya through Kenya-Tanzania land borders.
Industry, Trade and Investment Permanent Secretary Prof Adolf Mkenda who described the move as a breach to the East Africa Community (EAC) protocol also hinted that the two countries had agreed to lift the ban during an EAC sectorial meeting in early June.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter however said the ban was still in force and the two countries were yet to reach any agreement.
“We have not lifted the ban yet but there are discussions going on to reach an amicable solution,” Mr Keter told Business Daily.
The Energy Regulatory Commission had earlier indicated that the ban was necessitated by quality verification challenges from the land imported LPG hence leaving Kenya to rely on certificates of quality from the load port.
A Policy directive by the Government of Kenya was then issued to designate Mombasa as the only import route for LPG effectively classing door on LPG from Tanzania.
Besides imposing a ban on importation of cooking gas through the two countries’ borders, Kenya has imposed a ban on importation of wheat from Tanzania , further heightening the trade standoff.
Until the May ban, Lake Oil Group from Tanzania was the main importer of LPG into the country with local traders sourcing for the commodity from Lake Gas Kenya based in Nairobi’s industrial area.
The quality testing challenges has seen Kenya receive some odourless gas that has caused fire accidents in households sparking safety fears.
Two weeks ago, Kenya, through funding from World Bank sought the Supply, Delivery and Commissioning of LPG Testing Equipment for Energy Regulatory Commission.
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