Kenya's First Commercial Oil Production Project Gains Momentum
A significant milestone has been reached in Kenya's long-awaited entry into oil production, as a drilling rig destined for the country's first commercial oil site has arrived at Kilindini Port in Mombasa.
The GW70 onshore drilling rig, valued at over KSh 2.6 billion (US$20 million), was transported from Oman and is now undergoing offloading by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
The rig will be transported to Turkana County ahead of a November 1 spud date, with Gulf Energy E&P BV SEZ confirming that all workstreams are running to a tight project management schedule.
Gulf Energy's CEO Paul Limoh stated that the project remains on course for first oil production in December 2026, with the company targeting production of 20,000 barrels per day in its first phase and ambitions to scale output to 50,000 barrels per day in a second phase.