Kenya Pipeline Company

The Mombasa - Nairobi Section consists of a 450-kilometre 14 -inch diameter pipeline. The initial installed flow rate of the system was 440,000 litres per hour (translating to delivery of 3.85 billion litres per year). The products flow is controlled at Pump Stations (PS) at Changamwe Mombasa, (PS 1) through which products are received into the pipeline system, Maungu near Voi (PS 3), Mtito Andei (PS 5) and at Sultan Hamud (PS 7). The design and construction of the Mombasa - Nairobi pipeline system had a provision for the installation of additional pump stations at Samburu (PS 2), Manyani (PS 4), Makindu (PS 6), Konza (PS 8) to increase the flow rate.

There has been a marked increase in the pipeline traffic, rising from 879,776 m3 in 1978 to 4,317,439 m3 in the year 2009/10. The rise in demand has been driven by increased economic activities in the region. Consequently, the Mombasa - Nairobi Pipeline system reached its threshold in 2005/06 with a flow rate of over 424,000 litres per hour.

It then became clear that the initial installed flow rate of 440,000 litres per hour could not meet the rising demand for oil products. As a short term measure, the Government allowed road tankers to lift petroleum products from Mombasa to Nairobi, other destinations in Kenya and the neighbouring countries.

Studies show the demand for products from neighbouring countries will reach 4.6 billion litres by 2030 under a “business as usual” scenario. KPC estimates that demand for its petroleum products transportation services will increase by about 5 per cent annually, rising from about 4.5 billion litres in 2009/10 to 5.5 billion litres in 2013/14. The flow rate required on the Mombasa-Nairobi Pipeline to meet this through put is 522,000 litres per hour in 2009/10 rising to 640,000 litres per hour by 2013/14.

KPC embarked on a Capacity Enhancement Programme to construct new pump stations. Commissioning of the four new pump stations on the Mombasa – Nairobi Pipeline System is a major milestone in the enhancement of the petroleum products supply logistics in the region. The project was funded by KPC’s internally generated funds at a cost of USD 111.4 million.

The Capacity Enhancement Projects are critical to the achievement of Kenya’s Vision 2030 by ensuring uninterrupted supply of refined petroleum products. It is also in line with KPC’s goal to be “a globally predominant petroleum product handling and related services provider”. The enhanced capacity will reduce the number of petroleum tankers plying Kenyan roads and the associated road damage, carnage and maintenance costs.

Projects Completed in the Last Five Years

Information, Communication and Pipeline Control Systems Upgrades

SAP Systems: An ERP application which effectively automated financial transactions processing and reporting, procurement, human resource, plant maintenance among others at a cost of Kshs 191 million; Micro Wave Backbone: For Mombasa- Nairobi pipeline to provide communication links independence within the pipeline network at a cost of Kshs133.1 million;

Control Systems upgrade: At PS 3 (Maungu), PS 5 (Mtito Andei), and PS 7 (Sultan Hamud) to allow for enhanced local and remote operation at a cost of 930,556 Euros;

Tank Gauging: For Pump Stations 9 (Embakasi), 10 (Nairobi Terminal) and 12 (Moi International Airport) to improve product inventory and quality measurements on real time basis and online at a cost of USD 502,952;

Local Area Network (LAN): Project to enhance sharing of resources and improve communication through installation of Fibre Optic cable terminal equipment and LAN components linking 14 sites within KPC at a cost of about USD 1.6 million;

Scada upgrade and Pipeline Leak

Detection System: To enhance pipeline monitoring and control products within the pipeline system at a cost of USD 1.4 million;

VHF Network for Western Kenya Pipeline: To improve communication along the Right of Way for security purposes at a cost of KSh 37.5 million; Construction of Jet A-1 Tanks: At Eldoret and Kisumu at a cost of USD 8.6 million to improve operational flexibility and issue “ready into lane quality” Jet A-1 products at Kisumu and Eldoret depots;

Kenpipe Plaza: The project which stalled in 2002 was revived and completed in September, 2006; Morendat Training and Conference Centre (MTCC): Is fully utilised offering such services as training, conferencing, fitness, accommodation and recreation;

Eldoret Sewerage System: Was initiated in March 2005 and completed in November 2005 at a cost of KSh 17 million. It provides a sewerage system to the Eldoret Depot and neighbouring residential estates in Eldoret; Nairobi Terminal Borehole and Water

 
Supply System: The Project was undertaken to alleviate the perennial water shortage at Nairobi Terminal, occasioned by low pressure from the main water supply. The cost of the project was KSh 7.2 million;