Kilifi LPG facility receives first shipment amid safety concerns

Lake Gas Limited’s Sh8 billion (over $61 million) Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage facility in Kilifi County successfully received its first shipment of 11,474 metric tonnes of cooking gas from Nigeria at its Vipingo terminal.

The milestone marks a significant step in Kenya’s energy infrastructure development, though the project continues to face scrutiny over safety and compliance issues.

The consignment, discharged via the offshore Conventional Buoy (CBM) system located one kilometer off the Vipingo Coast, began on June 2 and concluded on June 4.

Lake Gas Group Chief Executive and Chairman Ally Awadh hailed the operation as a “defining moment” for Kenya’s energy landscape, emphasizing the facility’s role in enhancing LPG handling capacity, strengthening energy security, and promoting cleaner energy across the region.

“This state-of-the-art facility significantly enhances the country’s LPG import and storage capabilities and reinforces our commitment to clean energy and national development,” Awadh said. He noted that the commissioning process rigorously tested the entire LPG supply chain, including vessel mooring, subsea pipeline transfer, and onshore storage systems, with a capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes.

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Despite the achievement, the project has faced significant challenges. Local communities and the Kilifi County Government have criticized Lake Gas for allegedly failing to adhere to regulations during the plant’s development. Environmentalists have also raised alarms, pointing out missing or untested safety components, such as breakwater protections and proper discharge jetties.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, however, has downplayed these concerns, asserting that the facility will help stabilize cooking gas prices and provide relief to Kenyan consumers. Awadh echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that all operations complied with international safety standards, environmental protocols, and national regulations.

The successful discharge of the MT Barumk Gas consignment marks a critical step in operationalizing what Lake Gas describes as Kenya’s most advanced LPG import and storage facility. However, ongoing safety and compliance concerns continue to cast a shadow over the project’s future.