Kenya has taken a significant step towards commercial oil production in the South Lokichar Basin after Gulf Energy E&P BV secured an onshore drilling rig from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The GW70 rig, worth Ksh1.9 billion, is set to arrive before June, with drilling slated to begin in early July, boosting the government's aim for first oil delivery by year-end.

• The GW70 rig, a 1,500-horsepower machine, was leased from the UAE’s Great Wall Drilling Company.
• The South Lokichar Basin project is valued at Ksh774.1 billion (USD6 billion), with potential government earnings between Ksh135.3 billion (USD1.05 billion) and Ksh374.4 billion (USD2.9 billion) during exploration.
• Initial estimates by Tullow Oil suggest the basin holds about 560 million barrels of recoverable oil.