Construction of the Sh16 billion Taifa Gas Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal at the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Mombasa, set to be East Africa’s largest, is progressing steadily.
The Taifa Gas storage plant is a massive energy project nearing completion, with the new facility aiming to break a long-standing market monopoly, lower cooking gas prices, and turn Mombasa into a major East African LPG hub.
President William Ruto presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Taifa Gas liquefied petroleum gas terminal on February 24, 2023.
The entry of Taifa Gas, the cooking gas company controlled by Tanzanian billionaire Rostam Aziz, at a site in Dongo Kundu near the port of Mombasa is part of a trade deal between Kenya and Tanzania.
The plant will mark the first major investment in the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone and is expected to generate at least 120 jobs in its first stage as the country accelerates efforts to expand gas infrastructure.
The Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a 3,000-acre flagship industrial and logistics hub in Mombasa County, managed by the Special Economic Zones Authority and the Kenya Ports Authority, and aims to transform Kenya into a regional manufacturing and transshipment leader.
The Taifa Gas project is far more than another pipeline and represents one of the foundations upon which the country’s gas initiative is being built.
Observers contend the new state-of-the-art gas terminal will strengthen Kenya’s LPG supply chain through efficient bulk importation, storage and distribution to markets across the country and beyond.
They say the company is consolidating its position as a trusted partner in the delivery of strategic gas infrastructure projects that are central to Kenya’s energy security.
Taifa Gas Project Mechanical Engineer Moses Ochieng said the project in the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone is an LPG terminal and aligns with the government’s economic development blueprints and clean energy goals by scaling up regional cooking gas availability and driving down household energy costs.
He said the Taifa Gas LPG terminal is slated for commissioning in October 2026 and will be receiving bulk liquefied petroleum gas directly from berth number three at the Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT) via a dedicated 3.5-kilometer pipeline network.
“The project features an 18-inch, 3.5-kilometer pipeline connecting the Kipevu Oil Terminal to the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone and the pipeline comprises roughly two kilometers of subsea infrastructure and 1.5 kilometers on land to transport liquefied petroleum gas,” he said.
He said they are executing complex engineering designs, pipeline infrastructure, topside facilities, sea crossings, mechanical installations and other critical energy projects that support both upstream and downstream operations.
Eng. Ochieng said the facility developed on a 30-acre site approximately 4 km from the Port of Mombasa features 12 spherical storage tanks with a combined capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes with provisions for future expansion.
He said construction of the storage tanks is complete with testing underway, while installation of pipelines, electrical systems and instrumentation is steadily moving forward.
Eng. Ochieng said the Taifa Gas project is built to deliver value today while supporting a stronger energy future for tomorrow.
In an interview with KNA, he termed the Taifa Gas project initiative a ‘historic milestone’ in the efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in clean and green energy needs.
“Once the facility is up and running, our substantial storage capacity will enhance competition, reduce supply bottlenecks and drive down the cost of cooking gas for households and businesses,” he said.
He said the Taifa Gas project, which commenced construction in 2023, will be up and running by October 2026, pumping 30,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, supporting the country’s energy needs for both domestic use and export.
“Once operational, it will significantly improve domestic gas transportation, stimulate industrial development, encourage manufacturing and create new economic opportunities across the country,” he said.
Once fully operational, Taifa Gas will introduce more competition in the bulk cooking gas market, joining Lake Gas, which started operations in Kilifi last year.
This will increase the number of bulk gas suppliers to three and is expected to challenge the market dominance of African Gas and Oil Company.
By Hussein Abdullahi
