EPRA Plans Online-Only Clearance for Fuel and Cooking Gas Trucks at Kenya’s Borders

Fuel and cooking gas consignments crossing into Kenya may soon need digital clearance at the border, with paper processing phased out. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) published the plan in a public notice on Friday, October 30, as reported by Kenyans.co.ke, and has opened it to public comment before setting any start date.

Picture used for illustrative purpose. Photo: Vadym Alyekseyenko/Pexels

It is a proposal for now. Nothing changes on the road until EPRA announces a commencement date.

Under the plan, importers, exporters and transporters of petroleum products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) would process their clearance documents electronically through the National Electronic Single Window System. EPRA developed the platform with the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade).

Licensed transporters would also have to file their journey plans through the same system instead of the current methods.

EPRA officers at the border would then use it to check whether the licences held by the importer, the transporter and the driver are valid. That means a lapsed licence anywhere in the chain, from the importer to the person behind the wheel, could be flagged before a truck leaves the border.

The first phase covers only petroleum and cooking gas, with coal consignments to follow in a later phase that has no date yet.

Picture used for illustrative purpose. Photo: Daniil Prikhno/Pexels

The direct burden falls on companies that move fuel and gas across borders and the drivers they employ. EPRA’s notice tells them to make sure their licences and compliance documents are valid and up to date before the rollout.

Prices are another matter. For households and boda boda riders who simply buy fuel or a refill, the notice says nothing about them. The authority has not linked the plan to pump or LPG prices, so any claim that it will push the cost of a gas refill up or down is guesswork at this stage.

EPRA will hold public participation and sensitisation forums in November in 6 towns:

Exact dates for each forum have not been published yet. Anyone who cannot attend can send comments to EPRA’s official email, listed on epra.go.ke, or deliver a written memorandum to its head office or any regional office.

Picture used for illustrative purpose. Photo: Pixabay/Pexels

Once the forums close, EPRA says it will announce the date from which electronic clearance becomes mandatory for petroleum and LPG.

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