Oil & Gas

Kenya and Rwanda have signed three agreements to establish a government-to-government framework for importing petroleum products into Rwanda through Kenya. The agreements include a memorandum of understanding, a tripartite agreement, and a transport and storage agreement, creating a structured system for fuel supply between the two countries.

The partnership is designed to strengthen Rwanda's energy security by ensuring a more reliable and predictable supply of petroleum products. It is also expected to reduce logistical bottlenecks, improve the continuity of fuel deliveries, and support Rwanda's broader strategy of diversifying import routes while meeting growing demand driven by economic and industrial development.

Under the agreement, the Rwanda National Energy Company and the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) will oversee implementation in collaboration with relevant government agencies. Rwanda, which is landlocked, currently imports all of its fuel overland through the ports of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Mombasa in Kenya.

The new arrangement will shift a larger share of Rwanda's fuel imports to the Mombasa corridor, taking advantage of Kenya's pipeline and storage infrastructure. According to KPC, the first fuel cargo under the agreement is expected to arrive at the Port of Mombasa between September 4 and 6, marking the start of operations under the new partnership.