Turkana oil project faces closer scrutiny as independent audits planned
By Aloys Michael, March 31, 2026The Turkana oil project is now under closer scrutiny, as the government moves to expand environmental and social checks before commercial production begins.
Independent audits will examine Gulf Energy’s exploration activities and the field development plan (FDP) submitted for approval.
“These audits will serve as a critical tool to verify compliance, assess the effectiveness of management measures, and provide a foundation for continuous improvement and informed regulatory oversight,” Joseph Wafula, Deputy Director of Petroleum Economic Analysis at the Department for Petroleum, said during an interview on a local TV station on Monday, March 30, 2026.
Gulf Energy plans to start commercial production of Turkana’s Block T6 and Block T7 by December 2026. The first phase is expected to produce 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) until 2032, before scaling up to 50,000 bpd.
The government is in the process of hiring an independent contractor to audit the environmental and social impact reports from the exploration phase.
“Post–ESIA (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment) monitoring is essential to ensure that the commitments, mitigation measures, and management plans outlined in the approved project documents are effectively implemented,” Abigael Mwangi, who is a technical advisor at the State Department for Petroleum, said.
“This process is crucial for safeguarding local communities and the environment, fostering accountability, and maintaining the social license to operate.”
The planned environmental and social audits will complement a separate review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), which is designed to protect the public interest in the long-delayed project.
In February 2026, EPRA announced it was recruiting a consultancy firm to independently review Gulf Energy’s development work programmes and budgets against the approved FDP. The audit will also check the contractor’s expenses, comparing major costs with global and regional market rates to ensure fairness.
“Identifying potential overcharges or unnecessary costs before they are fully incurred and advising EPRA on the justification required to formally disallow or reduce the claimed amount during the cost recovery process,” Edward Kinyua, EPRA Director for Petroleum and Gas, explained.
The Energy Ministry and Cabinet recently approved Gulf Energy’s FDP for the Turkana oilfields. Parliament is yet to make a final decision.
The FDP projects that crude oil exports will reach 600,000 bpd in the first phase and could increase to 1.5 million bpd in the second phase.