Jet A-1 fuel testing will now be conducted across all Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) laboratories. This follows the certification of the Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisumu labs by the International Standard Organization (ISO). KPC laboratories received their 2nd re-accreditation of the ISO 17025:2017 standard, a development set to significantly reduce the turnaround time for testing jet A-1 fuel. This improvement positions Kenya as a crucial transport hub in the region.
During the certification handover ceremony, Mr. Joe Sang, the Managing Director of KPC, highlighted that the expanded laboratory capacity will cut down jet fuel testing time by more than 17 hours. He stated, “We can now complete Jet A-1 fuel testing in 6 hours, down from the previous 24 hours required when tests were limited to the Nairobi laboratory. This advancement ensures local and international flights in Kenya experience minimal disruption, benefiting from a reliable supply of safe and ample jet fuel. Moreover, certifying all seven laboratories to test jet A-1 fuel will save on sample transportation costs and eliminate typical risks of delays and losses.”
Mr. Sang also mentioned that the re-accreditation enables KPC’s various laboratories to offer testing services for petroleum products to third-party entities, including Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). This commercialization of labs in PS 10 (Industrial Area, Nairobi), PS 01 (Changamwe, Mombasa), PS 14 (Kipevu, Mombasa), PS 15 (KPRL, Mombasa), PS 25 (Nakuru), PS 27 (Eldoret), and PS 28 (Kisumu) means customers no longer have to travel to the Nairobi lab (PS 10), as they now have access to competent and accredited facilities closer to home.
The accreditation certificate was presented by Mr. Martin Chesire, the CEO of Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS). Mr. Chesire highlighted that the re-accreditation process involved a thorough evaluation of KPC’s laboratory facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and data management practices, ensuring compliance with the stringent requirements of the ISO standard.
“The accreditation of all seven of KPC’s Laboratories makes KPC the largest multisite accredited Laboratory in Eastern Africa. The accreditation will also enable them to offer testing services to other agencies and suppliers within the petroleum sector. The accreditation process is rigorous, we expect that a sample tested in any of the labs will give the same result across all seven labs.” Mr. Chesire added.
He commended Kenya Pipeline Company’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in laboratory testing, positioning them as a crucial player in the energy sector.
The globally recognized ISO 17025:2017 certification enhances KPC’s laboratory practice capabilities on an international scale. Compliance with the standard ensures the timely identification and resolution of potential risks and errors, minimizing the chances of inaccurate results and mitigating operational risks.
