National Oil plans to construct a depot in Kisumu for export products stock to bolster the corporation's new petroleum exports business. The state corporation recently set up a petroleum exports business unit to serve regional countries.

NOCK intends to grow its market for petroleum products in the region by establishing business partnerships with governments, petroleum marketers and direct supplies to large scale consumers.

The state-owned firm has already started selling products in South Sudan and hopes to create inroads in Uganda and DR Congo before spreading to other regional markets.

"The plan for National Oil is to continue supplying bulk petroleum products including fuels, lubricants and LPG to businesses and consumers as it looks into the possibility of establishing retail presence in these countries," said Nock chief executive Sumayya Hassan-Athmani.

National Oil is currently developing an off-shore petroleum jetty project and is in planning stages for construction of petroleum storage facilities in Mombasa and Western Kenya.

"The entry of National Oil into the export business is part of the broader business strategy of positioning the Corporation as a key player in Africa's petroleum industry," Sumayya said.