Kenya Relaxes Sulphur Standards Amid Fuel Crisis

Kenya has temporarily lowered its sulphur fuel standards for a period of six months, allowing diesel and petrol with a maximum sulphur content of 50 mg/kg to be sold in the country.

The decision follows requests by petroleum sector stakeholders, who cited challenges in sourcing fuel that meets current compliance levels.

“Owing to constraints occasioned by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including disruptions to supply routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, and the need to safeguard the continuous supply of fuel critical to the economy, these concerns have been given urgent consideration,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, and signed by Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, said.

According to the Ministry, it received requests from stakeholders in the petroleum sector, including the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, regarding challenges in sourcing fuel that meets current standard compliance levels.

Upon review by technical teams and consultations with the Kenya Bureau of Standards and the National Standards Council, the request was subjected to a comprehensive technical assessment before approval.

The temporary waiver applies to the sulphur parameter for KS EAS 177:2025 – Automotive Gasoil (diesel) and KS EAS 158:2025 – Premium Motor Spirit (petrol). The maximum limit has been set at 50 mg/kg, which corresponds to the previous fuel standards before stricter limits were introduced.

The measure is temporary and will be in effect for six months. It will be reviewed at the end of that period, or earlier if global supply conditions improve. The Ministry emphasised that this is a short-term intervention designed to ensure continued fuel availability and sustain economic stability during the current period of global supply disruption.

Kenya had been gradually adopting stricter fuel quality standards, including lower sulphur limits, to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The new limits under the East African Community standards were intended to align with global best practices.

However, the supply crisis has forced a temporary reversal to ensure that the country does not run out of fuel.

According to the Ministry, Kenya might have faced severe shortages as suppliers struggled to find compliant fuel in a disrupted global market without the waiver.

The temporary lower standard ensures that diesel and petrol can be sourced from a wider range of refineries, including those that may not yet meet the strictest sulphur limits.

However, higher sulphur content in fuel can contribute to increased air pollution, with potential health and environmental impacts.

The Ministry acknowledged the trade-off but emphasised that the measure is necessary to safeguard economic stability.

“It is against this backdrop and in full consideration of the need to safeguard the welfare of Kenyan consumers and the stability of the economy, that the Ministry has approved this request,” the press release stated.