Oil drilling halted after row

A rig at Ngamia 1 where Tullow Oil Company is exploring oil in Turkana County. Tullow Oil Kenya on Sunday announced that it had suspended its operations due to the demonstrations by area residents demanding to be employed at the company’s sites. Photo/FILE

What you need to know:

  • Protesters storm company premises to demand more jobs

Kenya’s search for oil has suffered a temporary setback after an international company suspended its operations due to public protests targeting its sites in Turkana County at the weekend.

Tullow Oil Kenya — which has in recent months announced significant oil finds that promise to be commercially viable — on Sunday announced that it had suspended its operations due to the demonstrations by area residents demanding to be employed at the company’s sites, including Ngamia 1 and Twiga 1, which are its biggest operations.

Led by MPs James Lomenen (Turkana South) and Nicholas Ngikor (Turkana East), hundreds of residents marched on the oil sites, demanding an explanation from Tullow president on criteria the firm used to hire workers.

They also wanted to know who was responsible for tendering. Rolls Company, which has been subcontracted to provide car hire services, should be blocked, they further demanded even as Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok distanced himself from the protests saying: “We in County Government are not in support of any action that negatively affects investment.”

FEARS OF SAFETY

Demonstrators blocked all roads leading to drilling sites at Kalapata, Lokichar, Lochor Emoit, Kaalmorog, Kakongu in Turkana South and Nakukulas and Lokichada in Turkana East and vowed not to back down until their demands are met.

On Sunday, the British oil firm, through its public relations firm, Africa Practice, said it had suspended all drilling operations and expressed fears for the safety of its staff.

“Tullow confirms that there have been a number of demonstrations at Tullow operated sites in Northern Kenya today (Saturday, October 26) regarding local concerns around employment. We are working with the central and county government to bring these demonstrations to a peaceful and orderly close as soon as possible. We have temporarily suspended our operations across Block 10BB and Block 13T in Turkana East and Turkana South sub-counties. The priority at the moment is to ensure the safety and security of our staff,” Tullow said in a statement.

The closure could cost Tullow millions of shillings in lost time as this will further delay its exploration and drilling programme.

“Our primary concern remains the safety of all our staff — both Kenyan nationals and expatriate staff. We are working closely with the relevant stakeholders to resolve the situation as soon as possible,” the statement said.

“We have a long term view of our operations in Kenya and are committed to working with the government, the communities and the people of Kenya to ensure that the newly found resource brings lasting benefits to all Kenyans.”

Earlier, Mr Lomenen had accused Tullow of failing to give supply tenders to area residents. “We have vegetables, meat, water and charcoal. Must they get these from Nairobi?” he asked.

A group of elders joined the protesters at Twiga 1, demanding to be addressed by the company’s president and officials from the Energy ministry.

After a three-hour wait, they led protesters to storm Twiga 1 camp, demanding that all workers leave, especially those subcontracted to Rolls Company. Some workers said they had lost valuables, including phones and laptop computers, during the incident.

Tullow announced discovery of oil in Kenya last year after tests on Twiga-1 and Ngamia-1 confirmed the two wells had a potential of 250 million barrels of oil. In September, the firm announced it had struck oil in Agete-1 and Ekale-1.