Kenya anticipates a ten‑fold increase in petroleum products shipped to Rwanda through the Northern Corridor in the coming years, following the arrival of Rwanda’s first 40,000‑tonne consignment at Mombasa.

The inaugural shipment, carried by the vessel MT Sea Wolf, was off‑loaded at Kipevu Oil Terminal 2 on Tuesday under a framework agreed between Kenya and Rwanda in June to enable bulk fuel imports via Kenya.

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the agreement will raise Rwanda‑bound petroleum volumes and strengthen the Northern Corridor as an alternative route for Rwanda’s fuel imports.

Acting Managing Director of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Pius Mwendwa projected that annual Rwanda‑bound volumes handled through Kenya could climb from roughly 60,000 cubic metres to 600,000 cubic metres.

KPC has already invested in its 1,342‑kilometre pipeline network and 1.138 billion‑litre storage capacity to accommodate the expected surge, without affecting domestic supply.

The company’s infrastructure can move about 14 billion litres of petroleum products each year and includes the Kisumu Oil Jetty, which offers a water‑linked route toward Rwanda and other regional markets.

Rwanda’s Minister of State for Infrastructure, Armand Zingiro, highlighted that the new route provides greater flexibility and a backup to the Central Corridor, especially amid global shipping disruptions.

Kenya also plans to supply refined products from the upcoming Lamu refinery to Rwanda and other neighbours, expanding its role from transit hub to regional supplier.