The government has invited Kenyans to suggest a name for the country’s crude oil as it prepares to begin commercial production and enter the international oil market.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has given members of the public until Thursday, October 29, at 5pm to submit their proposals.
The exercise comes ahead of the planned start of commercial oil production on December 1, following President William Ruto’s announcement during this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations that Kenya was targeting December to begin exporting crude oil from Turkana.
Kenya discovered commercially viable oil deposits in the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana County in 2012. The country has since been working towards moving from exploration and pilot production to full commercial operations.
The proposed name will serve as the identity under which Kenyan crude oil is traded in the international market.
In the notice, the ministry said the name would represent Kenya to international buyers for years to come and should therefore reflect the country’s identity.
“Kenya’s chosen crude name will be the country’s commercial identity in the global oil market for decades, and it will carry Kenya’s story to buyers globally,” the notice stated.
The ministry noted that crude oil traded internationally is identified by specific names used in shipping documents, price reports and trading platforms.
It cited Brent crude from the United Kingdom, Murban from the United Arab Emirates and Bonny Light from Nigeria as examples of grades recognised in the global oil industry.
Under the public participation exercise, individuals, communities, institutions, professional organisations and other interested parties can submit suggestions for consideration.
Every entry should have the name proposed, a description of its meaning and suitability for Kenya’s crude oil. The applicants are supposed to give their contact information.
The Ministry further indicated that the most appropriate name should portray national identity, foster patriotism, and should be easily pronounceable and memorable regardless of the language used.
The Ministry warned against names that relate to particular counties, tribes, firms, political ideologies, and religious denominations. The proposed name should also be able to register as a trademark in Kenya and internationally.
Kenyans can submit their proposals through the government’s official petroleum website or email them to crudeoilbranding@petroleum.go.ke.
Physical submissions can also be delivered in a sealed envelope marked “Public participation: Naming of Kenya’s crude oil” to the State Department for Petroleum on the 11th floor of Kasneb Towers Two.
The naming exercise is part of preparations for Kenya’s planned entry into the global crude oil market, although the December 1 date remains the government’s target for the start of commercial production.
