The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry led by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Mulongo , in partnership with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring sustainable development and environmental protection in the South Lokichar Basin, Turkana County, as oil production plans advance.

Since oil was first discovered at the Ngamia-1 exploration well in Block 10BB in 2012, the government has closely supervised exploration and early oil projects, including the proposed Upstream Oil Development Project. The Ministry and NEMA emphasize that environmental protection, public health, and socio-economic development must go hand in hand.

Senator Lomenen said, “Waste management is not well managed in the oil fields in South Lokichar.”

Tullow Oil (K) B.V. submitted an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the South Lokichar Upstream Oil Development Project in September 2021, which received approval in October 2025. 

The project covers six oil fields—Amosing, Ngamia, Twiga, Ekales, Agete, and Etom—across 1,500 hectares in Blocks 10BB and 13T, now renamed T6 and T7.

Under the new phased Field Development Plan (FDP) led by Gulf Energy Limited, production is projected at 20,000 barrels per day (BPD) in Phase I and 50,000 BPD in Phase II, with first oil expected in December 2026. Notably, crude oil will be transported by road or rail to Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL) and exported via Kipevu Oil Terminal II, diverging from earlier plans to use the Lokichar–Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline.

To ensure compliance, Gulf Energy is required to finalize the transfer of the ESIA license from Tullow Oil and carry out supplementary assessments to address the risks of the revised transport and development plan.

A separate ESIA for the Make-Up Water Supply Project, approved in January 2025, involves a 90.5km pipeline from Turkwel Gorge Dam to the Lokichar Central Processing Facility. The project will provide clean water for domestic use and irrigation to communities impacted by oil development.

Senator Ogolla asked the Cabinet Secretary what modalities has the ministry put in place to ensure that environmental protection is implemented.

While the Lokichar–Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline received an ESIA license in November 2021, road and rail transport will be used initially. NEMA and the Ministry are overseeing additional assessments to ensure public health and safety safeguards are adequate for this deviation.

Environmental and social safeguards include an integrated waste management facility, engineered landfill, drill cuttings treatment using a Thermal Desorption Unit, and strict occupational health and safety measures. NEMA will enforce compliance through inspections, audits, and contingency planning for potential oil spills or other incidents.

The South Lokichar Basin project has a defined framework for decommissioning and site restoration under Kenya’s Constitution and relevant environmental and petroleum laws. Decommissioned land will revert to the National Land Commission, with oversight on restoration and future sustainable land use. NEMA and EPRA will jointly monitor compliance to ensure environmental standards are maintained throughout the life of the project and beyond.

Through these coordinated measures, the Ministry and NEMA aim to safeguard the environment, public health, and community livelihoods while supporting Kenya’s oil production ambitions.