Rubis Energy Denies CEO Was Deported, Says He Travelled To France ‘To Provide Brief On Situation In Kenya’

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr, 15 – Rubis Energy has denied that its Group Managing Director and CEO Jean-Christian Bergeron was been deported.

In a statement, to newsrooms, the company said Jean traveled to its head office in France to brief on the oil situation in Kenya.

The company also denied hoarding fuel amid accusations from the government on the same. They say that they have been responsive to requests from customers to supply oil, which has been a rare commodity in the country in recent weeks.

Rubis says the gap in oil supply has been caused by various factors and that the company has met the demand of the same in the country. From its figures, Rubis recorded a 6.9 per cent-13.3 per cent growth in its sales between February and April this year.

The company said it did not withhold any oil in anticipation of a rise in fuel prices scheduled to be announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority on April 14, 2022.

The government through PS Ministry of Petroleum and Mining Andrew Kamau said that oil companies in the country were prioritizing exports over, supplying the local market.

The company has also denied redirecting its oil from the local market to exports. It says its allocation to Kenya has not been below 80% with the lowest being 81 per cent in March.

This comes as the price of fuel hit an all-time high, rising to Sh9.90. between now and May 15, Petrol will retail at Sh144.62, diesel at Sh125.50 and Kerosene at Sh113.44.

While addressing the press on Thursday, acting Petroleum CS Monica Juma announced that the fuel crisis would be resolved within 72 hours from Thursday, April 14.

Juma also announced that 10 oil companies had been issued with show-cause letters. Oil marketers are expected to record statements from tomorrow 6 am at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters.

The companies that are facing a probe over fuel shortage in the country are: Vivo Energy Kenya, Total Energies Marketing Kenya PLC, Ola Energy Kenya Limited, Gapco Oil, Petro Oil Kenya Limited, Lexo Energy Kenya Limited, Riva Petroleum, Galana Oil Kenya Limited, Lake Oil Limited and Hass Petroleum Kenya Limited.