Gulf Energy has secured an onshore oil rig in the Middle East, signaling a major boost to its plan of delivering first oil from the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana before the end of the year.
In a statement on February 20, the company announced that it has contracted the GW70 rig, valued at over US$15 million, from Great Wall Drilling Company (GWDC) in the United Arab Emirates on a long-term lease.
“In a strategic and capital-intensive move, Gulf Energy has secured the GW70 rig, valued at more than US$15 million, from Great Wall Drilling Company (GWDC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a long-term lease arrangement,” read part of the statement.
According to the statement by Gulf Energy, logistical arrangements are underway to ship the rig from Abu Dhabi to Mombasa, with its arrival expected by June, ahead of procedural commissioning and early July drilling (spud) operations.
“Gulf Energy is finalizing logistical arrangements to ship the rig from Abu Dhabi to Mombasa before the end of next month,” read part of the statement.
Gulf Energy Ensures Rig Readiness and Local Capacity Building
Francis Njogu, Gulf Energy’s Chairman, said that the company has arranged for the rig to be delivered, commissioned, and operated under a performance-based model that includes active skills transfer.
“This ensures not only efficient rig operation but also capacity building for local technical teams, strengthening Kenya’s oil and gas expertise,” Njogu noted.
Also Read: Govt Approves Turkana Oil Development Plan, Confirms 2026 Deadline
The GW70 rig, with a 1,500-horsepower capacity, has previously been used on projects for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and has an excellent track record of operational efficiency and safety.
Additionally, Njogu noted that, ahead of its deployment, a high-level technical delegation from the Government of Kenya, including officials from the State Department for Petroleum, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), and the Turkana County Government, conducted an inspection tour in Abu Dhabi.
The delegation evaluated the rig’s operational systems, safety mechanisms, and environmental credentials, and provided recommendations to fine-tune its readiness.
“During the inspection, the team carried out a detailed technical evaluation of the rig’s operational systems and safety mechanisms. Recommendations were issued to fine-tune readiness and guarantee seamless performance once the rig is mobilised to Turkana.”
Gulf Energy Pump KSh774 Billion into Turkana Oil Ahead of Production
Earlier in February, Gulf Energy confirmed a US$6 billion investment in the South Lokichar Oil Project in Turkana County, signaling a transformative milestone in the energy sector.
Also Read: Govt Grants Gulf Energy Tax Exemptions on Turkana Oil Operations
Speaking during a Joint Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Njogu described the project as the single most significant private-sector-driven upstream petroleum investment in Kenya.
He highlighted that the project aims to create jobs and businesses and aligns with the Field Development Plan (FDP), adding that the FDP and Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) constitute a technically mature, strategically phased plan to unlock Kenya’s largest onshore petroleum development.
“At Gulf Energy, we are approaching this FDP as Kenyans with a view to creating as many jobs and business opportunities for Kenyans, starting with our Turkana host community, as are committed to positioning Kenya as an oil-producing country. We are very ready, and we have set 1st December 2026 as a target to produce oil, and we hope to expeditiously secure the FDP ratification,” said Njogu.
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