Kenya has cleared another hurdle on its path to first crude oil. A drilling rig for the South Lokichar project in Turkana arrived at the Port of Mombasa, bringing the country closer to producing crude for the first time in December 2026.
Gulf Energy E&P BV SEZ confirmed that a cargo ship carrying an integrated onshore drilling rig docked at Kilindini Port today after sailing from Duqm Port in Oman. The firm leased the rig for the project, and its arrival marks a significant step in Kenya’s journey toward first oil.
The Rig and Its Journey
The GW70 rig traveled aboard the vessel MV Transit Sedanka. Valued at more than US$20 million, Gulf Energy leased it from Great Wall Drilling Company (GWDC) in the United Arab Emirates under a long term arrangement.
Timeline to First Oil
Gulf Energy Chief Executive Officer Paul Limoh said the company has set a spud date of 1 November, when drilling on the first phase of the US$6 billion crude oil project will start. He thanked KPA officials for their support and said the offload is proceeding smoothly.
“All workstreams at Gulf Energy E&P BV SEZ are running to a tight project management schedule, and the project remains on course for First Oil production in December 2026,” Limoh said.
Before drilling starts, the 1,500 horsepower rig will go through commissioning and acceptance checks. In the UAE, the same rig worked on projects for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), a track record Gulf Energy points to as proof of its reliability.
Production Targets and Partners
Gulf Energy plans to produce 20,000 barrels per day in the first phase of the South Lokichar development. Output will then scale to 50,000 barrels per day in the second phase, a jump that would position Kenya as a notable oil producer in East Africa.
To deliver the first phase, Gulf Energy has contracted Baker Hughes, an oilfield services and equipment provider, to handle Integrated Well Services. The company has also brought in SLB, an energy technology and services firm, to build the Early Production Facility.
What It Means for Kenya
The stakes reach beyond Turkana. The Government of Kenya projects the South Lokichar Basin could generate lifetime earnings exceeding USD 2.9 billion, or KES 371 billion, over the life of the project. That figure will move with global oil prices and production volumes, but it underscores why officials are watching this rig’s journey from a port in Oman to the oil fields of Turkana so closely.
With the rig now on Kenyan soil and a spud date set for November, the countdown to December 2026 has moved from plan to schedule. The next milestone: first oil out of the ground.
