The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) on Friday, January 30, facilitated the simultaneous berthing and offloading of three large oil tankers at the Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT) in the Port of Mombasa.
The vessels MT Front Cheetah, MT Torm Emilie, and MT STI Orchard docked at the terminal almost concurrently. Each vessel, described as longer than two football pitches, carried significant quantities of petrol and gas oil.
The terminal’s design allows fuel to flow through pipelines in hours rather than days, improving operational efficiency and reducing delays.
Effective Performance
According to the Kenya Ports Authority, the three vessels have vast steel bodies, each longer than two football pitches. With the expanded capacity of the the Kipevu Terminal, the ships efficiently delivered truckloads of oil to meet the demand of Kenya and the region.
“What once took days of waiting and costly delays now happens in hours, deliberate and controlled,” KPA noted in a statement shared on Saturday.
“This is the purpose of the Kipevu Oil Terminal. Built to handle scale. Built to absorb pressure. Built so that multiple giants can be served simultaneously, safely and efficiently.”
The Kipevu Oil Terminal, owned by KPA, is managed by the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), which handles day-to-day operations and maintenance under a service-level agreement.
KPC officially took over operations in April 2024 to streamline petroleum supply and reduce conflicts between the two state corporations.
The facility has four berths totaling 770 metres, three of which are operational, while the fourth is reserved for future expansion.
The terminal operates under strict international environmentaland safety standards, including fire-fighting systems, oil spill containment protocols, and continuous monitoring of air and water quality. This ensures that the port, the ocean, and nearby communities remain protected from accidents or environmental harm while large volumes of fuel move through pipelines every hour.
Also Read: KRA and Kenya Ports Authority Launch Major Reforms to Decongest Mombasa Port
It can handle up to three large ships concurrently, each with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of up to 170,000, and manage multiple hydrocarbon products.
Secure pipelines connect the terminal to onshore storage facilities, including KPC’s, and the terminal features a workboat wharf and advanced navigation systems.
Expanding Petroleum Handling Systems
According to KPA, the terminal has doubled Kenya’s petroleum handling capacity, reducing bottlenecks and supporting domestic needs and transit cargo for East and Central Africa.
The upgraded facilities and modern pipelines have improved turnaround times for vessels, allowing multiple tankers to berth and offload safely and efficiently.
Also Read: How to Buy KPC Shares on Nairobi Stock Exchange
Supporting Trade and Growth
Mombasa Port handled 45.45 million metric tons of cargo in 2025, up 10.9% from 2024, and 2.11 million TEUs, up 5.5%.
Transit cargo increased by 19.5% to 15.88 million tons. Upgrades, including berth expansions, terminal systems improvements, gate automation, and new equipment, are ongoing.
The Kipevu Oil Terminal plays a key role in Kenya’s energy security and regional trade, demonstrating its ability to handle large volumes safely and efficiently.
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