Kisumu: The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has unveiled draft regulations aimed at streamlining Kenya's growing biofuels industry, marking a major step toward achieving the country's goal of a 100 percent transition to clean energy by 2030. EPRA Managing Director Daniel Kiptoo, in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Director for Renewable Energy Eng. Mungai Kihara during a public participation forum in Kisumu, said the proposed Energy (Biofuels) Regulations, 2025 will provide a legal framework for production, blending, distribution, and sale of biofuels across Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kiptoo stated that the regulations are intended to promote fair business practices, ensure quality and safety across the biofuels value chain, support environmental sustainability, and enable the collection of accurate data for evidence-based policymaking. He mentioned that the draft regulations come at a time when Kenya was ramping up efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce its dependency on fossil fuels, highlighting the successful initiatives such as the ENI project in Makueni County, where an Italian oil firm was extracting vegetable oil from castor seeds for export to its refinery in Italy.
Bioethanol projects tied to Kenya's sugar sector, he added, were also gaining momentum, especially for clean cooking applications. The proposed regulations will apply to the entire biofuels supply chain from production and importation to storage, packaging, blending, and sales. Among key provisions, noted Kiptoo, was the requirement for blending bioethanol with petrol to produce gasohol, with biodiesel derived from vegetable oils and animal fats also needing to comply with set standards before blending with automotive gas oil.
Eng. Kihara, the Deputy Director for Renewable Energy, underscored the importance of proposed biofuel regulations in transforming Kenya's energy landscape. He said the draft regulations were pivotal in diversifying the country's energy mix, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and expanding access to modern energy services. These regulations, he emphasized, are vital frameworks that will drive transformation and sustainability in the energy sector, targeting a 100 percent transition to clean energy by 2030.
The regulations will apply to both household and industrial usage, including the transport sector. EPRA and the Ministry of Energy are partnering with farmers, particularly in Western Kenya's sugarcane belt, to promote local bioethanol production. This initiative is expected to boost farmer incomes and reduce dependence on traditional fuels such as firewood and charcoal, providing every household access to cleaner cooking options.
Brian Onyango, representing the Briquette Producers Association of Kenya, decried the exclusion of briquettes from the regulatory framework, despite their relevance in clean cooking solutions. He urged for their inclusion, noting the global recognition of briquettes as a viable option. Meanwhile, Laban Okeyo proposed raising the domestic biofuel threshold from 12 to 30 cubic meters and called for clearer information on licensing costs.
The Kisumu forum is part of a nationwide series of consultative meetings aimed at collecting public feedback before the regulations are finalized and submitted to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and the Attorney General for gazettement.