The Government of Rwanda and the Government of Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 29, 2026, for the importation of refined petroleum products through the Northern Corridor. Under the agreement, Rwanda will source its bulk petroleum products independently and utilize Kenya’s petroleum infrastructure for their transportation and storage.
The signing was accompanied by two implementing agreements: the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) among the Government of Rwanda, the Government of Kenya, and Rwanda National Energy Company (RNEC); and the Transport and Storage Agreement (TSA) between Rwanda National Energy Company (RNEC) and Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).
According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, these agreements mark a significant milestone in regional cooperation and energy security, establishing a structured and reliable framework for the supply, transportation, storage, and evacuation of petroleum products through Kenya’qs petroleum infrastructure.
Under the partnership, Rwanda will benefit from improved access to Kenya’s petroleum logistics system, including import coordination, strategic storage, and pipeline infrastructure,enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of the country’s petroleum supply chain.
The agreements are expected to deliver several strategic benefits, including enhanced security and continuity of petroleum supply, greater resilience against regional and global supply disruptions, reduced logistical bottlenecks, improved predictability of fuel imports, increased operational efficiency across the supply chain, and stronger regional integration between Rwanda and Kenya.
The deal was signed at KASNEB Tower in Nairobi between Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, Opiyo Wandayi, and Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine-Marie Kajangwe, with senior officials from both countries in attendance.
The framework allows Rwanda to access fuel through the Port of Mombasa, transported via Kenya’s 1,342-kilometer pipeline network, with storage capacity now extended to 90 days for cargo bound for Rwanda. According to figures shared with the press, shipments through the Northern Corridor could rise more than tenfold,from roughly 42,000 to 50,000 cubic metres annually to over 500,000 cubic metres. The first shipment under the new arrangement is expected to arrive in Mombasa in early September.
The Ministry says implementation will begin immediately through the designated institutions, including RNEC and KPC, working with relevant government agencies in both countries.
For decades, Rwanda a landlocked country has relied heavily on the Central Corridor through Tanzania, with the majority of goods still moving through the Port of Dar es Salaam. That route is expected to remain dominant for most categories of imports. However, petroleum imports are now set to gradually shift toward Kenya under this new government to government arrangement, even as private fuel marketers continue to use the Tanzanian route.
The partnership also supports Rwanda’s broader strategy of diversifying its import routes and strengthening fuel security to underpin economic growth and industrial development. The Ministry of Trade and Industry said: “The Government of Rwanda remains committed to maintaining a secure, reliable, and efficient petroleum supply system that supports national development and advances regional cooperation for shared prosperity.”
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