Kenya Extends Oil Supply Agreement with Aramco, ADNOC, ENOC

A worker at an oilfield in Africa. (Getty)
A worker at an oilfield in Africa. (Getty)
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Kenya Extends Oil Supply Agreement with Aramco, ADNOC, ENOC

A worker at an oilfield in Africa. (Getty)
A worker at an oilfield in Africa. (Getty)

The head of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) said Tuesday that Kenya extended to December 2024 an oil supply deal with three Gulf-based companies.

"There was an extension up to December 2024, so this is basically arising out of negotiations that have been happening to drive down the freight and the premium (costs)," said Daniel Kiptoo, the head of EPRA.

The deal had helped lower the cost of transporting oil to Kenya and the premium it pays to suppliers, he added.

In mid-March, Saudi Aramco, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) won bids to supply petroleum products to Kenya, a move designed to curb demand for dollars and secure oil imports.

Bloomberg cited Kenya Energy Minster Davis Chirchir as saying that Aramco will supply the African country with diesel for six months, ADNOC will supply Kenya with diesel and jet fuel, and ENOC will supply it with gasoline.

The Trade Development Bank (TDB) provides consultation to Kenya regarding acquiring a credit facility to pay for the fuels.



E-commerce Giant Alibaba Has Completed 3-year 'Rectification' Period

Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
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E-commerce Giant Alibaba Has Completed 3-year 'Rectification' Period

Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters

China's State Administration of Market Regulation issued a statement on Friday saying Alibaba Group had completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior.
In 2021, the regulator slapped a record $2.75 billion fine on the e-commerce giant for abusing its market position by forcing merchants on its platforms not to work with rival platforms.
The regulator's statement said Alibaba's rectification work had achieved "good results" and that it would continue to "guide" Alibaba to continue to "regulate its operations and improve its compliance and quality."
The fine levied on Alibaba in 2021 came during a period of intense scrutiny for the business empire founded by billionaire Jack Ma, Reuters reported. A $37 billion IPO by the finance arm he founded, Ant Group, was also scuttled following Ma's public critique of the country's regulatory system in late 2020.
Alibaba, in its own statement, described the regulator's announcement on Friday as a "new starting point for development" and said it would continue to "promote the healthy development of the platform economy and create more value for society."