Rwanda Opens New Petroleum Import Route Through Mombasa Port
Rwanda activated a new fuel import route via Kenya's Port of Mombasa to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on Tanzania.
The Rwanda National Energy Company (RNEC) activated a new petroleum import route through the Port of Mombasa with the arrival of the vessel MT Sea Wolf, carrying 40,000 metric tons of refined petroleum products. The shipment was received at the Kenya Pipeline Company's Kipevu Oil Terminal 2, marking the first cargo under a bilateral energy cooperation deal between Rwanda and Kenya.
This new framework follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 29, 2026, between Kenya's Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and Rwanda's Ministry of Trade and Industry. By utilizing the Kenya Pipeline Company's network and storage tanks, Rwanda aims to diversify its supply chain and reduce its previous near-total reliance on the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. To facilitate the transition, the Kenya Pipeline Company extended the storage window for RNEC products to 90 days.
Kenyan officials expect the volume of petroleum products transiting through the country to increase from 50,000 to over 500,000 cubic meters per year. During the arrival ceremony, Rwandan and Kenyan officials characterized the move as a milestone for regional integration under the East African Community, intended to strengthen energy security and support sustainable economic growth across the region.
