Officials of Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) are in Ghana, to tap into the expertise of the Ghana’s petroleum downstream sector and exchange ideas on improving regulatory regimes and practices.
A 12-member delegation, led by its Director-General, Mr. Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria will visit other allied institutions in the petroleum downstream sector while in Ghana.
The visit was a replication of a similar visit by National Petroleum Authority (NPA) officials in January this year.
Addressing the delegation, the Chief Executive of (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid expressed his excitement to receive his counterparts from Kenya.
He said such visits afford public institutions valuable learning experiences, which improve public service.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid explained that the petroleum downstream sector is evolving and needs to be understood in a holistic manner to address modern emerging challenges.
On his part, the Director- General of EPRA, said the delegation was looking forward to learning from Ghana’s successful regulatory practices, especially the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) scheme, which ensures prices of petroleum products across the country are uniform.
He said regulating the industry in Kenya requires new ideas and it is their expectation this visit will afford them that.
The delegation was taken through presentations on licensing requirements, inspection and monitoring protocols, quality assurance measures, UPPF scheme and gas regulation.
The EPRA Director-General was accompanied by Dr. John Mutua, Ag. Director Economic Regulation and Strategy; Dr. Eng. Joseph Oketch, Director Electricity and Renewable Energy; Robert Mahania, Deputy Director of Legal Services; Eng. Edward Kingua, Director Petroleum and Gas; and Kennedy Kirwa, Administration.
The rest are Project Research, Planning and Design; Eng Michael Kariuki; Peter Nguni, Secretary of Energy and Petroleum Tribunal; Gladys Moyoge, Corporate Communications Manager; Mueni Mistinga, Corporation Secretary; and Paul M. Njuguna, Director Legal.