Every two (2) years, the East African Community Partner States organize a Conference and Exhibition on the Petroleum Potential and Investment Opportunities in East Africa. The East African Petroleum Conference & Exhibition (EAPCE) is recognized globally as a premier international forum for those working in the upstream petroleum sector. Participants include oil companies, researchers, investors, service providers, academia and financiers among others. Participants exchange ideas and information about recent developments in the region, learn about new investment opportunities and share lessons learnt.

The East African Partner States will host the 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition 2025 (EAPCE‘25) on the Petroleum Potential and Investment Opportunities in East Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 5^th to 7^th  March, 2024. For the three (3) days, Dar es Salaam will become the place for the oil and gas industry players to gather, collaborate, conduct business and experience the showcasing of achievements in the sector under the theme: "Unlocking Investment in Future Energy: The Role of Petroleum Resources in the Energy Mix for Sustainable Development in East Africa.”

Oil and gas exploration in the East African Community has shown significant progress, with major activities centered in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Uganda stands out as a key player following the discovery of substantial oil reserves in the Albertine Graben region. The development of the Tilenga and Kingfisher projects, alongside the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), underscores Uganda's commitment to becoming a major oil producer.

Kenya and Tanzania are also making strides in their oil and gas sectors. In Kenya, the Lokichar Basin has been the focal point of exploration efforts, and Kenya remains optimistic about its potential to become an oil-exporting nation. Meanwhile, Tanzania has focused more on its vast natural gas reserves, particularly in the offshore fields near Mtwara. The Tanzanian government has been working to attract investments for the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant, which would enhance the country's capacity to export gas. Both countries, like Uganda, face challenges related to infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks, and securing sufficient investment, but their ongoing efforts highlight a regional commitment to leveraging hydrocarbon resources for economic growth.

Similarly, Rwanda, located in the East African Rift's Albertine Rift segment, has been actively pursuing hydrocarbon exploration since 1971. Significant efforts include 2D seismic surveys in 2012 and high-resolution 2D seismic surveys have mapped the Lake Kivu basin's subsurface, revealing potential hydrocarbon traps and key exploratory drilling locations. Additionally, the country's favorable geological conditions, combined with robust economic growth and a business-friendly environment, have attracted substantial investor interest in securing exploration blocks and furthering Rwanda's petroleum production potential.

Petroleum exploration in Burundi, focuses on the Rusizi and Lake Tanganyika Basins, part of the East African Rift System. Geological, gravimetric, aeromagnetic, and seismic surveys indicate sediment thickness exceeding 3,000 meters, with exploration divided into four blocks: A in the Rusizi Basin (onshore) and B, C, and D in the Lake Tanganyika Basin (offshore). Although Blocks C and D were granted to A-Z Petroleum Products Limited and Surestream Petroleum Limited, respectively, fieldwork was suspended due to falling crude prices, leaving all blocks currently open for potential investors.

The petroleum resources discovered in the East African region is estimated at 2 billion barrels of oil in place and 3tcf of natural gas. Additional resources continue to be discovered by aggressive exploration programmes in the region.

Each of the previous ten Conferences has been more than just an international conference for it has integrated cultural & touristic dimensions unique to East Africa.

EAPCE’25 will, like the previous conferences, provide participants with not only the opportunity to assess the developments in the petroleum upstream sector in East Africa, but also to explore the many and varied attractions of this large region that is known in Africa for its unique and diverse beauty.

EAPCE’25 will feature an exceptional program of technical papers, research posters with an impressive line up of invited speakers and panel participants together with innovative exhibitions. Immediately before and after the Conference there will be a diverse range of opportunities for delegates to enjoy geological field excursions and tours of wildlife conservation areas.

Often called “The Heart of Africa” and covers an area of 27,834km². Burundi is landlocked and borders Rwanda, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo, thus forming part of the Central African Region.

Various studies have been conducted since 1959 for petroleum exploration both in the Rusizi Basin and in the Lake Tanganyika Basin. These basins are part of the East African Rift System and are located between Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zambia.

This Rift System is dated from Cenozoic (Tertiary) and is divided into two branches the eastern arm and the western arm. The Lake Tanganyika and the plain of Rusizi belong to the western branch which consists of sedimentary basins marked by deep Lakes (Malawi, Tanganyika).

In Burundi, these basins cover an area of 2,968.1km². Geological studies, gravimetric, aeromagnetic and seismic surveys have been conducted in the two basins and the average sediment thickness is estimated to be more than 3,000 meters.

The exploration areas of Rusizi and Lake Tanganyika basins have been divided into four blocks: A (793.1 km²), B (697.1 km²), C (664 km²) and D (813.4 km²). Block A is on Rusizi Basin which is onshore while blocks B, C and D are offshore in Lake Tanganyika basin from North to South respectively. The Government of Burundi continues to encourage oil companies to invest in petroleum exploration. It is also reviewing the Petroleum Code dated 1976 for attracting more investors. Blocks C & D were granted to A-Z Petroleum Products Limited and Surestream Petroleum Limited respectively for exploration. However, with the fall of crude prices, fieldwork on these blocks was suspended. The four blocks are currently open and available to potential investors.

The Republic of Kenya is bisected by the Equator and East longitude 38^o. It borders the Indian Ocean to the southeast, Somalia to the East, Ethiopia to the North, South Sudan to the Northwest, Uganda to the West, and Tanzania to the south. From the coastal margin, the low plains ascend to the central highlands.

The Kenyan highlands comprise successful agricultural regions with climatic conditions varying from tropical along the coast to temperate inland to arid in the north and northeastern regions. It covers an area of approximately 582,646 km² with a population of over 45 million people. The country's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.9% in 2023 compared to 4.3% in 2022. The major sectors contributing to the GDP growth are agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, transport, communication, and fishing among others.

Kenya is endowed with diverse wildlife and thus a considerable acreage of land has been devoted to wildlife conservation habitats. These habitats include the famous Maasai Mara and Tsavo National Parks. All the Big Five animals of Africa are found within these habitats.

Regionally, the East African Rift system bisects Kenya in a North-South direction with the drainage patterns being a function of the surface relief manifestation.

Generally, most rivers drain into the Indian Ocean, Lake Victoria and Lake Turkana.

Kenya has four (4) sedimentary basins namely: Lamu, Anza, Mandera and Tertiary Rift covering an area of approximately 500,000 km². Exploration started in Kenya in the 1950s. The sedimentary basins are subdivided into sixty-three (63) petroleum exploration blocks out of which twelve (12) are licensed to four (4) oil companies. Fifty-one (51) blocks are open for licensing to investors for oil and gas exploration.

Current Activities

Upstream Oil and Gas activities

Currently, exploration activities are ongoing both in the onshore and offshore blocks. To date, over 80,000-line km of 2D seismic data and approximately 10,000km² of 3D seismic data has been acquired across the various blocks. A total of 94 wells have been drilled- most being exploratory wells with a few being appraisal wells. Tullow Oil B.V made commercial discoveries in Block 10BB and 13T in the South Lokichar Sub-Basin of Tertiary Rift Basin. Field Development Plan to develop resources in the South Lokichar Basin has been submitted to Energy and Petroleum Regulatory (EPRA) and is currently under review. Other oil and gas discoveries made includes; gas discovery in offshore Lamu Basin in Block L8 drilled by Apache; and Oil and gas discovery in Block L10A drilled by BG Group and gas discoveries in Block 9 in Anza Basin.

The Ministry plans to contract a Company to undertake a 3D Seismic Multi-Client data acquisition program for shallow offshore in the near future. The company will carry out two seismic projects; one covers new 3D acquisition in the offshore Lamu Basin, the second involves the re- imaging of vintage data. The company will carry out the multi-client work on the north and south of the Basin.

The Ministry is also repacking data in the most prospective blocks that have gas discoveries with an aim of marketing them to potential investors.

Midstream activities

To support the South Lokichar development, the Government of Kenya (GOK) is seeking investments for the development of the Lokichar to Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline (LLCOP) project that will follow the LAPSET corridor. LLCOP will transport stabilised crude oil from the Lokichar Central Processing Facility (CPF) to the Lamu port, Kenya. The proposed 24’’ pipeline is designed for a flow rate of 130 kbopd. The project is at the project development stage (Pre-FID stage). Front End Engineering Design (FEED) was completed; however, it has been updated with respect to the revised development concept. ESIA was completed and approved by NEMA. Conversations on the pipeline are being carried out alongside the South Lokichar Basin FDP.

Downstream Activities

Importation of Petroleum Products

After the refinery ceased operation in September 2013 upon the country resorted to meeting its fuel requirements through 100% import of refined petroleum products, the country was importing its products through an open tender system framework until April 2023 when the importation of the products shifted to Government-to-Government Arrangement. In the Master Framework Agreement, the Government of Kenya imports fuel on credit basis for a duration of 6 months and payment is made using local currency. This enabled the Government to avert fuel and dollar shortage crises.

The products are imported through Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT 1 and 2). Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Heavy Fuel Oil are imported privately and through other jetties i.e. Shimanzi Oil Terminal and AGOL.

Uptake of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG)

Mwananchi Gas Project: LPG Distribution

The Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Energy & Petroleum (MOEP) seeks to convert 4.4million households to use LPG as the primary cooking fuel by 2030 through access to affordable LPG and cylinders. This will enable the Government to achieve The Medium-Term Plan II under vision 2030 of 15 kilograms (kg) per capita of LPG consumption in Kenya by 2030 from the current 6.5 kg per capita.

As part of the journey to achieve this the Government has initiated a project dubbed, ‘The Mwananchi Gas Project”. This is an initiative by the Ministry whose objectives are: -
i. To enhance LPG penetration in the country
ii. To facilitate access of LPG to low- income households.
iii. Scale-up uptake of LPG from 10% to 70%
iv. Reduce use of biomass and kerosene as the primary source of household cooking fuels

The plan is to distribute subsidized 6 kg LPG cylinder and accessories to about 4.4 million households by 2028. Rollout to begun in 2024.

Clean Cooking for Learning institutions

In support of support government national Tree Growing Restoration Campaign, the ministry endeavoured to enhancing use of clean cooking gas in households and public institutions. The Government through the ministry of energy and petroleum embarked on a journey to convert all public learning institutions to use LPG as the primary cooking fuel.
LPG Infrastructure Development

There exist two bulk import jetties (via vessels). The jetties include Shimanzi Oil Terminal (SOT) jetty that is connected to a total storage capacity of 2,700 tons and the other terminal privately owned is linked to African Gas and Oil Limited (AGOL) company located in Miritini with a total storage of 25,000 tons.

Construction of a bulk LPG storage facility at KPRL, Changamwe tank farm by Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) is underway. The first phase includes 25,000 tons storage and a similar capacity in the second phase.

There are several other private investments ongoing with the most progressed one being Lake Gas Limited construction of an LPG bulk storage facility with a capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes. The facility will be complemented by a state-of-the-art, fully equipped LPG cylinders manufacturing facility with a capacity of producing at least 1,000 cylinders per hour. The project upon completion will enable manufacture and filling of LPG cylinders under one roof, thus minimizing supply chain inefficiencies while lowering the cost of cooking gas to the citizenry.