Japan confirms joint oil exploration project in Kenya

August 14, 2013 | Budget & Investment, Exploration / Discoveries

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi and Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto discuss a joint oil project during their meeting in Nairobi.

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi and Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto discuss a joint oil project during their meeting in Nairobi.

Japanese trade minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he has confirmed with the Kenyan government a joint undertaking for oil exploration in the southwestern part of the country.

The National Oil Corporation of Kenya and the Japanese state-owned resource developers –  Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation agreed in April last year to jointly conduct exploration in the Great Rift Valley region. The project was reconfirmed with the government of Kenyan under President Uhuru Kenyatta, who came to power this April, Motegi said Monday.

In an interview, Mr Toshimitsu Motegi, who met with Deputy President William Ruto in Nairobi on Sunday, said, “it is important for Japan to eventually secure oil interests” in Kenya.

The exploration is expected to be carried out through fall 2014. Tokyo has been requesting that Japanese companies be granted concessions for test drilling if an oil deposit is confirmed.

During his visit to Kenya, Mr Motegi, the Japanese minister of economy, trade and industry, unveiled a plan to train 30 people in the petroleum business over the next five years. He also visited the Olkaria geothermal project for power generation in the city of Naivasha, west of Nairobi.