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 Kenya
Pipeline Company Limited has launched an independent investigations
into the cause of the product spillage which occurred on Monday, 12th
Sept, 2011, the Managing Director, Mr. Selest Kilinda has said.
He said the report will be made public once the investigations are complete.“The KPC Board and Management have launched investigations into the cause of the product spillage that occurred at the by-pass between Nairobi-Mombasa pipeline (Line 1) and Nairobi-Eldoret pipeline (Line IV). We will make this report public as soon as we receive it,” he said.
Mr. Kilinda who was addressing a press conference at the company’s headquarters commended the KPC response team for their quick action. He said, the Kenya Pipeline company’s (KPC’s) reaction to the fire at Sinai slums was swift and in accordance with best standards in safety management.
“Upon detecting a leakage along the pipeline, KPC immediately dispatched Security and Administration Police to Mukuru-Sinai area to carry out crowd control and further surveillance to ensure safety. The Company contacted the Kenya Police, G4S, Kenya Airports Authority, Nairobi City Council Fire Brigade, National Disaster Centre, the Kenya Army and St John’s Ambulance to reinforce, the KPC team that had already dispatched 2 fire engines to the scene,” he added.
Mr. Kilinda who was accompanied by Board members, said KPC uses the SCADA system, an advanced technology for pipeline control, instrumentation and telemetry, information management and communication, which helped in detecting the spillage.
“The company is able to optimize the performance of the pipeline system. Adequate sensors are provided at each system shuts down the units before any damage can occur. Turbine and positive displacement meters have been provided at the various stations for product control and transaction. Each batch’s quantity is automatically calibrated to standard parameters,” he added.
Mr. Kilinda said the board of Kenya Pipeline Company had resolved to support victims of the fire by donating blankets and bed sheets. A blood donation centre for staff has been set up at KPC Clinic. He said the company has engaged other stakeholders in trying to relocate people who have encroached on KPC’s way leaves without much success. “We went as far as compensating more than 1, 470 people at a cost of Kshs 29 million who had encroached on the way leaves,”
Mr. Kilinda said KPC had put in place stringent measures to ensure the integrity of the pipeline is maintained.
He said in June 2010, KPC undertook a thorough inspection of the 450 km 14” pipeline from Mombasa to Nairobi. “The aim of the pipeline inspection was to locate and size all the internal and external pipeline anomalies that may have developed to critical level since the last inspection and give a fitness-for-purpose report and a rehabilitation requirement.”
Mr. Kilinda assured the public that the company has enough stock of petroleum products. “KPC would like to reassure the public that there will be no shortage of the commodity as a result of the spill. We have taken measures to ensure that fuel is available,”
He however cautioned the public against buying petroleum products from unlicensed sources.
“It has come to our attention that some members of the public are in possession of the spilled product. We wish to caution that the product is highly inflammable and must not be used. Members of the public are advised not to buy petroleum products from unlicensed persons"
PetrolWorld 130911
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