By Mandere Onyinkwa
The Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry has announced a temporary relaxation of fuel quality standards to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products following major disruptions in the Middle East.
Effective immediately, the government has approved a waiver of current sulphur parameters, allowing a maximum limit of 50mg/kg for both Automotive Gasoil (diesel) and Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).
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This move represents a temporary return to previous fuel standards and is scheduled to remain in place for a period of six months.
The decision follows urgent requests from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and industry stakeholders who have faced increasing difficulty in sourcing fuel that meets Kenya’s recent, stricter compliance levels.
Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui highlighted that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, specifically threats to critical shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, necessitated the shift to protect the national economy.
“This measure is temporary and intended to ensure continued fuel availability and sustain economic stability during the current period of global supply disruption,” stated CS Kinyanjui.
The Ministry emphasized that the waiver was granted only after a comprehensive technical assessment by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the National Standards Council.
The priority is to prevent fuel shortages that could cripple transport and manufacturing sectors.
“It is against this backdrop, and in full consideration of the need to safeguard the welfare of Kenyan consumers and the stability of the economy, that the Ministry… has approved a request… to temporarily waive the sulphur parameter,” the statement read.
The government confirmed it will review these measures at the end of the six-month period, or sooner if global supply conditions improve.
