The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has stopped an attempt to steal fuel from its pipeline in Mombasa County. Its security and pipeline maintenance teams found an illegal connection during routine surveillance on Monday, November 2. The connection was on the line linking Pumping Station 14 to Pumping Station 15. KPC announced the find in a statement on Tuesday.
KPC officers secured the site and reported the matter to Chaani Police Station, which has opened an investigation. The Eastleigh Voice reported that specialist police teams are handling the case. The company said its teams secured the connection before any fuel could be siphoned. The Daily Nation reported that police had busted a suspected fuel-siphoning syndicate targeting the pipeline.
Dinah Kirwa, a KPC general manager, confirmed that no fuel was lost. "Our officers have successfully managed to foil a criminal act which is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities," she said. Kirwa added that the monitoring teams tracked the connection and secured the scene in time.
Police are expected to establish who installed the connection and whether others were involved, The Eastleigh Voice reported. According to Kenyans.co.ke, the investigation should also show whether KPC workers at the stations took part.
According to The Eastleigh Voice, KPC runs a pipeline network of about 1,342 kilometres across Kenya, along with storage facilities and pumping stations. The company said it uses surveillance systems, security intelligence and leak detection technology to watch for interference.
The attempted theft comes as fuel prices remain high. Kenyans.co.ke reported that on October 14 the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority raised petrol prices by KSh 12.93 per litre. Diesel rose by KSh 9.90 and kerosene by KSh 28.49. Until November 14, petrol sells at KSh 226.96, diesel at KSh 227.76 and kerosene at KSh 219.87 per litre. The outlet said the government blamed conflicts in the Middle East for disrupting supply.