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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

The integration of oil data and competence with hydrogeology to identify deep groundwater resources in Kenya

Ruden AS (
Private sector
)
#SDGAction50837
Description
Description

Kenya has been extensively mapped for hydrocarbons across various geological basins, and some oil exploration wells have revealed indications of fresh deep groundwater. Interestingly, the areas of Kenya most affected by drought have the highest-quality subsurface data, which could potentially be used to locate hidden groundwater resources.

To identify these unconventional water resources, Ruden AS and the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) have committed to working together to assess the existing oil dataset in the country. This joint effort will involve a comprehensive study of all available data, including seismic and well logs from oil exploration.

To ensure that the identification, exploration, and development of these water resources are carried out sustainably and for the benefit of the communities that need it most, the involvement of donors, civil society, and implementing agencies from an early stage is crucial. We invite all actors to join our commitment to laying the groundwork for a sustainable supply of clean water in Kenya and contributing to achieving food self-sufficiency.

Expected Impact

In Sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya has the third largest number of people in absolute numbers and by percentage of population that rely on unprotected surface water. From October to December 2022 Kenya faced its fifth consecutive below-average rainy season. Humanitarian partners estimate that there will be 6.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023 in the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya.

Discovering additional sustainable and cost-effective water sources in Kenya could be a game changer. Unconventional water resources can help to reduce the impact of current and future droughts. Ensuring access to water (SDG-6) is critical to achieving other SDGs, including improving quality of life through access to drinking water, achieving food security through water for irrigation (SDG-2), Increase the share of renewable energy and greenhouse gas management by establishing energy-forestry projects as successful deep aquifer groundwater project spin-off projects where local communities shall engage in establishing groundwater irrigated seed-oil forest cover as carbon sinks as well as biofuel resources (SDG7) and promoting economic development through water for livestock (SDG-8)

Partners

The National Oil Corporation of Kenya
Regional Centre on Groundwater Resources, Education, Training and Research of Kenya.

Additional information

Ruden AS works on all aspects of water, from the science of finding sustainable sources of water, to assisting in inter-ministerial cooperation helping realize water projects on a national scale. Scientifically, we specialize in deep groundwater (between 400-2000m depth), which is an unconventional but reliable source, independent from short-term climate variations, and naturally protected from pollution. Therefore, deep groundwater is crucial for drinking water, sustainable food production, and economic development.

The National Oil Corporation of Kenya is a fully integrated State Corporation involved in all aspects of the petroleum supply chain covering the upstream oil and gas exploration, midstream petroleum infrastructure development and downstream marketing of petroleum products. In the upstream, National Oil facilitates and directly participates in oil and gas exploration activities in Kenya. As a facilitator, National Oil is tasked with the marketing of Kenya’s exploration acreage, management of gas and exploration data and the running of the National Petroleum Laboratory among other attendant responsibilities. National Oil is among the few African national oil companies directly involved in the search for oil and gas. One of their purposes is to live their values, growing a sustainable, responsible and profitable company that contributes to national development.

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Entity
Ruden AS
SDGs
2 6 7 8 17
Region
  1. Africa
Other beneficiaries

Local communities in Kenya

Countries
Kenya
Kenya
Norway
Norway
Contact Information

Manon, Ms.