Refinery shut for routine repairs

By Philip Mwakio

Mombasa-based Kenya Petroleum Refinery Ltd (KPRL) has been shut for routine maintenance.

Head of Human Resource and Corporate Communications, Martin Wahome confirmed that one of the two refinery’s complex had been shut down for the next 36 days.

"KPRL has embarked on a major turnaround of the main complexes," said Mr Wahome.

The exercise will cost Sh260 million.

International experts from South Africa, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Nigeria, India and Singapore are helping in the exercise.

Throughout the exercise, complex two of the refinery will however continue to operate as usual.

Manufacturing manager Andrew Harvey, said before shutting down, stakeholders were advised and necessary precautions taken.

" The actual planning starts more than two years in advance. This is so mainly to the long lead times involved in obtaining spare parts and material to carry out the work,’’ Harvey said.

Wahome explained that the turnaround was scheduled to take place in June, as this is a month when there is only one cargo of crude oil imported as compared to two cargoes in other months.

"This is done by product importation and stock buffering. This means that there should be no shortage of any fuel,’’ Wahome explained.

"This is done by product importation and stock buffering. This means that there should be no shortage of any fuel,’’ Wahome explained.

Turnaround is the scheduled periodic shutting down of the process plant for the purpose of carrying out maintenance and implementing projects.