"How Tullow dimmed lights in Turkana’s Lokichar town"

When Tullow discovered crude oil in 2012 in Turkana County, the sleepy Lokichar town came alive. Local and foreign investors moved in and built malls, shops, hotels and entertainment joints along the Kitale-Juba Road. There was good money in circulation as the British firm had employed hundreds of people and sub-contracted other companies in oil drilling... This, however, changed when the oil drilling was scaled down, destabilising the business community that had been used to the money in circulation...

Tullow says it will provide water to local communities from Turkwel Dam through a pipeline. An exploration and appraisal plan will also be put in place to ensure the remaining five discoveries are developed to extend and sustain initial plateau rates while keeping costs low by using the rigs used for development drilling... This was revealed by a multi-agency team consisting of officials from the county government, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) during a fact-finding mission.

Governor Nanok had raised concerns over poor waste management of hazardous chemicals from oil exploration activities in the South Lokichar Basin. Mr Nanok claimed there was an abandoned Etir well with poisonous chemicals exposing locals, livestock and the general ecosystem to danger...The team confirmed that Amosing 3 and Etiir oil well sites are the most affected. Recommendations issued to the oil explorer are yet to be implemented. The team collected samples of the pollutants for laboratory confirmation but findings during the inspection had revealed possible seepage seen by discolouration of the ground and tear of the protective linings.