Kenya's Oil Production Plans Get a Major Boost as Drilling Equipment Arrives
A major milestone has been reached in Kenya's commercial oil production plans as a consignment of onshore drilling equipment arrived at Mombasa Port. The 2,152-metric-tonne cargo includes a 1,500-horsepower GW70 Integrated Onshore Drilling Rig valued at over KSh2 billion, leased by Gulf Energy E&P BV from Great Wall Drilling Company (GWDC) of the United Arab Emirates.
The equipment's arrival comes as Kenya prepares for the next phase of development of its largest onshore petroleum project. The country is targeting first oil production in December 2026, with crude exports through Mombasa expected in the first quarter of 2027, according to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
The South Lokichar oil project in Turkana County has attracted approximately US$6.1 billion in investment over 25 years, making it one of Kenya's largest petroleum development projects. The current Field Development Plan places the 2C resource base at approximately 326 million barrels.