CONSTRUCTION has officially begun on East Africa’s first state-of-the-art liquid oxygen manufacturing plant at the Tatu Industrial Park within the Tatu City Special Economic Zone in Kenya. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Friday, was attended by notable figures, including US Ambassador Meg Whitman and Finland’s Ambassador Pirkka Tapiola.
This cutting-edge facility is designed to meet the growing demand for medical-grade liquid oxygen in healthcare facilities across the region. The project is being led by Hewatele, a locally registered social enterprise, with substantial financial backing from various international development partners. These include the United States Development Finance Corporation, the Finnish government through Finnfund, Grand Challenges Canada, the Soros Economic Development Fund, and the UBS Optimus Foundation from Switzerland. The total investment in the project amounts to $20 million.
Boosting healthcare access
Bernard Olayo, the founder of Hewatele, emphasized the critical role this plant will play in ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality oxygen to medical facilities across East Africa. He highlighted the plant’s contribution to achieving universal healthcare in the region, which is vital for improving the quality of life and enabling citizens to focus on personal and economic development.
‘Access to quality emergency healthcare services is a fundamental human right that enhances quality of life, allowing citizens to focus on personal and business development. Achieving universal healthcare requires global solidarity and resource mobilization,’ Olayo stated.
US Ambassador Meg Whitman underscored the significance of the project for Kenya, noting that it represents a successful partnership between the United States and Hewatele.
‘This facility is a win-win for Kenya. It will improve healthcare in the country and provide jobs in a growing industry,’ Ambassador Whitman said.
In addition to the liquid oxygen plant, Kenya is also advancing other significant infrastructure projects. The Kenyan government has entered into discussions with Nigeria’s Sahara Group to co-develop a 30,000-ton facility for handling and storing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Mombasa. This joint venture, in partnership with state-owned Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), aims to establish East Africa’s largest LPG storage and bottling facility.
According to Joe Sang, Managing Director of KPC, the process of finalising the partnership with Sahara Group’s Asharami Synergy Plc is underway. The project, expected to take 24 months to complete, will be funded by Asharami, while KPC will provide the land for the facility.
Promoting clean energy
This initiative aligns with Kenya’s broader goal of achieving universal access to clean cooking energy by 2030. Currently, more than 90 percent of rural households in Kenya rely on biomass, such as wood fuel and charcoal, which contribute to significant health risks due to harmful emissions. The new LPG facility is expected to play a key role in reducing these risks and promoting cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions.
While discussions between Kenya and Sahara Group are ongoing, this collaboration marks a significant step forward in improving Kenya’s energy infrastructure and enhancing access to clean cooking technologies.
Both the liquid oxygen plant and the LPG storage facility represent Kenya’s commitment to improving healthcare and energy access for its citizens, setting a foundation for broader economic growth and development in the region.
Credit: Africabrifieng
