Kenya is preparing to roll out new rules that will allow petrol sold in the country to be blended with locally produced biofuels, in a move aimed at reducing reliance on imported fuel and creating new business opportunities for farmers and manufacturers.
The government is implementing the Energy (Biofuels) Regulations, 2025, which provide a legal framework for the production, licensing, blending, transport, storage, distribution and sale of biofuels in Kenya.
Under the plan, Kenya will gradually introduce fuel blends known as E5 and E10. E5 means petrol mixed with 5 percent bioethanol, while E10 contains 10 percent bioethanol.
Bioethanol is a type of fuel made from crops and agricultural by-products such as sugarcane molasses, cassava, maize and sorghum. It is produced through fermentation and distillation. Biodiesel, another form of biofuel, can be made from vegetable oils, used cooking oil and other organic materials.
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, together with the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has already held consultations with key industry players, including oil marketing companies, ethanol producers, manufacturers, transport and logistics firms, regulators and other stakeholders.
The talks focused on how ready the country is for the rollout, the infrastructure required, and how the blending programme will work across the fuel supply chain.
The government says the programme is part of efforts to strengthen Kenya’s energy security at a time when global oil prices remain volatile due to geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions.
EPRA Acting Director General Dr. Eng. Joseph Oketch said the regulations give Kenya a chance to build new local industries while reducing exposure to global fuel shocks.
“The Biofuels Regulations provide Kenya with an important opportunity to strengthen energy security while building new local industries around agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy,” he said.
He added that increasing local bioethanol production could create opportunities for farmers, investors, manufacturers and other businesses in the value chain.
Eng. Isaac Kiva, Secretary for Renewable Energy in the State Department for Energy, said Kenya already has ethanol plants with capacity to process 83 million litres annually, but the country currently produces only 26.5 million litres.
He said scaling up production will help Kenya support cleaner transport fuels, expand clean cooking solutions, strengthen local industry and reduce expensive fuel imports.
The government expects the biofuels programme to open up new markets for farmers who grow crops such as sugarcane, cassava, maize and sorghum. It could also boost agro-processing, logistics, transport, manufacturing and rural economies.
Globally, countries such as Brazil, India, the United States, Thailand and South Africa have expanded biofuel blending to reduce oil dependence, support agriculture and lower transport emissions.
Stakeholders said successful implementation in Kenya will require close coordination between government agencies, ethanol producers, oil marketers, investors, logistics companies and standards bodies.
They also noted that the rollout must be carefully managed to ensure adequate local production, proper storage and transport systems, and clear standards for fuel quality.
If fully implemented, the programme could mark a major shift in Kenya’s fuel market by allowing locally produced agricultural materials to become part of the country’s everyday petrol supply.