Tullow speaks on Monday’s disruption of crude oil transport

Trucks of the first crude oil consignment from Lokichar,Turkana arrive at the Mombasa's Changamwe KPRL storage facility in Mombasa County on Thursday June 7, 2018. [Maarufu Mohamed,Standard]

Tullow Oil has issued a statement over Monday’s incident in which its convoy of trucks transporting crude oil from Lokichar to Mombasa was temporarily disrupted.

This is after a local media house reported the matter and the company has sought to clarify what ensued yesterday.

“At 1100hrs on Monday 8th July 2018, a convoy of trucks carrying crude oil from Lokichar to Mombasa and operated by our contractors was briefly interrupted at Lokichar by a group who identified themselves as members of an association representing truck drivers from Turkana South and were demanding for more opportunities for local drivers,” statement read in part.

Tullow has said that Turkana South Deputy County Commissioner Philip Sigei held brief talk with the group after which they agreed to channel their grievances to the Turkana Grievances Management Committee, which is headed by Turkana County Commissioner. It said that the trucks left for Mombasa at 11.40am after the discussion between the two parties.

The statement has however not revealed the grievances of the association of truck drivers, hence leaving unanswered questions on the oil transportation which has recently been paralysed by insecurity.

Tullow has also stated that they have ensured that the surrounding Turkana community benefits from the project.

It said: “Tullow can further confirm that 30 per cent of all EOPS trucks and driver opportunities have been provided to Turkana local business people and local drivers, respectively.” 

“Tullow looks to give first consideration of the procurement of goods and services, where commercially and technically possible, to local suppliers from the host countries in which we operate.”

In July 2018, the British company had to stop its operations due to insecurity as locals turned hostile against the company. Company CEO Paul McDade called for resting of trucks after the roads became impassable.

“What you saw locally was the local people, the community... using the trucking operation as a lever really to demonstrate to the national government that the security situation on the ground had to improve,” McDade said.

He later played down the whole thing calling it just a minimal hitch, after which they resumed operations after the Government intervened.