Tullow set to resume oil exploration in Baringo

Tullow Oil has announced that it would return to Baringo County where its suspended operations after locals turned hostile.

It stopped prospecting for oil in March over what villagers claimed was exclusion by the British-owned exploration firm.

Edward Mungatana, a senior manager at Tullow, told a public forum yesterday that his company was willing to go back to resume the exploration, and that it cannot afford to be irresponsible in its activities.

"We are willing to go back and revisit the grievances brought by the villagers," Mr Mungatana said.

"Any complaints should be directed back to us because we have put in place a mechanism to listen to them," he added.

drilling well

Tullow reportedly spends about Sh100 million in drilling a single oil well.

Mr Mungatana was responding to complaints by some members of the public who attended the debate on the Local Content Bill at Strathmore University yesterday.

It is such hostilities that the proposed law is expected to avert by involving the local communities in exploration and actual mining of minerals.

Investors are required to outline their long term plan and provide locals with employment and involve them in procurement of locally-produced goods.