Article content

A new twist has developed in the convoluted history of the Keystone XL pipeline with reports that, even while rejecting the Canadian project, the U.S. has been working with Kenya to finance a similar proposal.

The PowerAfrika project would stretch 900 km from Lokichar in northern Kenya to the port of Lamu on the Indian Ocean. It would run through the Great Rift Valley, an environmentally sensitive area that is a crucial habitat for endangered species and a source of essential tourist revenue. Tullow Oil Plc, jointly with Africa Oil Corporation, is said to have discovered 600 million barrels of crude in the South Lokichar basin, but has been reluctant to begin drilling because of the low price of oil. Transport would also be precarious – the alternative to a pipeline is to truck oil to a railway line that would move it to the coast.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Kelly McParland: Special treatment given to Kenyan pipeline flies in the face of U.S. position on Keystone Back to video

Rather than condemn the plan as a danger to the environment, the U.S. has pledged to help raise US$18 billion to see it through. Reports from Nairobi indicate that the U.S. ambassador, Robert Godec, met with Kenyan energy secretary Alfred Keter a week ago to offer Washington’s support.