Danger as Kisumu residents scoop fuel from leaking pipeline

Petrol is highly flammable while diesel does not release a large amount of flammable vapour which could lead to an explosion

Danger as Kisumu residents scoop fuel from leaking pipeline

A leakage of a pipeline near Kondele on the Kibos-Kisumu highway on Friday saw dozens of Kisumu residents on scooping fuel oblivious of the dangers of their act; the residents were seen scooping the fuel into jerrycans.

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Managing Director Joe Sang in a statement said the spillage was occasioned by a suspected siphoning of fuel by a 'rogue trader.' Mr Sang said that the pipeline referred to as Line 6 was immediately isolated to enable the repairs to kick off. The company's safety and environment team has also taken over the site to stop the product from spreading further.

Mr. Sang also said that KPC would work closely with the police and other relevant arms of government to ensure that the culprits of this dreadful act are arrested and brought to book. Security officers led by Kisumu Central Deputy County Commissioner John Cheruiyot and Administration Police Commander Benjamin Koima have already arrived at the scene. Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) officials from Kisumu are also on the ground trying to establish source of the leakage.

It is yet to be known whether the fuel is petrol or diesel. Petrol is highly flammable while diesel does not release a large amount of flammable vapour which could lead to an explosion.

A similar leakage was experienced in June 2017 along the Nakuru - Kisumu line near Muhoroni which KPC attributed to an illegal connection by an oil marketer. A study was launched following the completion of repairs to the pipeline with the KPC's safety and environment team having already taken over the site for remedial action.

In 2015, an oil spill in Thange valley in Kibwezi that was attributed to corrosion of the 40 year old Line 1 has so far cost KPC over 200 million Shillings in clean up, compensation and other costs. 

Source : Nation 

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