KENYA Pipeline is considering extending the pipeline network to various counties to improve supply of petroleum products to various regions.
The company which operates the country's main pipeline that runs between Nairobi and Mombasa and the western Kenya pipeline extension which runs from Nairobi to Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu has invited bids for a feasibility study on the county expansion plan.
"The company owns and operates 1,221 kilometres of pipeline network and it intends to extend this network to various parts of the country in line with its corporate strategic plan," the company said in a notice yesterday.
KPC wants the consultancy firm that will be contracted for the feasibility study to determine projected petroleum demand in five regions, carry out a financial, economical and social analysis to determine the viability of devolving the pipeline network to counties and determine the least cost route for the proposed pipelines.
The consultancy that will be picked by KPC shall also be required to develop primary engineering designs for the pipelines and undertake environmental and social impact assessment studies on the proposed regions.
KPC has earmarked Mount Kenya/Upper Eastern region, Lower Eastern/Upper Coast region, South Rift, South Nyanza and Western regions for the study. KPC has seven depots along the existing pipeline route. Mombasa and Nairobi each have two depots while the others are in Nakuru, Kisumu and Eldoret.
The deadline for submission of bids for the feasibility study is February 18. International firms bidding for the contract are required to partner with local firms for the project.