Kenya's South Lokichar Basin Oil Project on Track for December 2026 Production Target

The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has announced that Kenya is on track to meet its target of first oil production from the South Lokichar Basin by December 2026. The arrival of a major onshore drilling rig, leased from Great Wall Drilling Company, at Kilindini Port in Mombasa is a significant milestone for the project.

The GW70 onshore drilling rig was shipped from Duqm Port in Oman and will be transported to Turkana County, where it will undergo commissioning and operational acceptance testing before drilling begins. The initial development phase is designed to produce approximately 20,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with plans to scale output to 50,000 barrels per day in later phases.

The project has been contracted to Gulf Energy Energy and Petroleum Exploration and Production B.V. Special Economic Zone (Gulf Energy E&P BV SEZ), which has partnered with Baker Hughes for integrated well services and SLB (formerly Schlumberger) for an early-production facility. The first crude oil exports via the Port of Mombasa are projected for the first quarter of 2027.

The arrival of the GW70 rig underscores Kenya's push to commercialize its oil reserves and meet EPRA's production target. Successful commissioning could position the South Lokichar Basin as a significant contributor to the country's energy mix and export earnings.