National Oil Corporation of Kenya

What National Oil Corporation of Kenya does

National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) is a wholly state-owned Kenyan corporation, incorporated in April 1981 and operational since 1984, with cabinet oversight through the State Corporations Act and a board appointed by the relevant Cabinet Secretary. It operates across the full petroleum value chain. In upstream, it manages a National Data Centre housing seismic, well-log, aeromagnetic, and gravity data collected since the 1950s, runs a Seismic Processing Centre and Geochemical-Petrophysical Laboratory at its Kawi House headquarters, and is the operator of Production Sharing Contract for Block 14T in the Tertiary Rift Basin in partnership with JOGMEC and BGP Kenya, with 95 wells historically drilled across Kenya's four sedimentary basins and 2.91 billion barrels STOIIP estimated at Lokichar.

In downstream, NOCK distributes petroleum products (petrol, diesel, lubricants, and LPG) through a national network of 110+ owned service stations (representing approximately 10% inland retail market share, up from 0.02% in 2008), SupaSERVICE centres, authorized dealerships, supermarkets, and direct bulk sales from its Nairobi National Terminal. Its branded product lines include SupaGas LPG (3kg, 6kg, 13kg, and 50kg cylinders), SupaLub lubricants (engine oils, transmission oils, industrial lubricants, greases), and SupaCard fuel cards with both pre-paid and 45-day interest-free post-paid fleet options. Its subsidised Gas Yetu "Mwananchi Gas" program targets low-income households with a complete 6kg cylinder-and-burner package at KSh 2,000.

Revenue mechanics span transaction-fee retail fuel and lubricant sales, recurring fleet-card subscriptions, one-time real estate rental of Kawi House office space, and large volume contracts such as the multi-billion KSh Geothermal Development Company fuel supply deal. Pricing of retail fuels is regulated by EPRA on a 14-day cycle. On 8 August 2023, the Kenyan Cabinet approved restructuring NOCK into a Holding Company with three operational subsidiaries covering upstream, downstream, and trading operations, signaling a pivot toward greater operational specialization and capital access while retaining full government ownership.

Name

National Oil Corporation of Kenya

Legal name

National Oil Corporation of Kenya Limited

Website

https://nationaloil.co.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

National Oil Corporation of Kenya is a wholly state-owned, fully integrated petroleum corporation that conducts upstream exploration (via National Data Centre and Block 14T operations) and downstream distribution of fuels, LPG (SupaGas/Gas Yetu), lubricants, and fuel cards across 110+ Kenyan service stations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Petroleum Marketing and Distribution

NAICS

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (4247), Crude Petroleum Extraction (211120), Crude Petroleum Extraction (21112), Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (3241)

SIC

Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172), Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Service Station Operations (Company-Owned & Dealer-Operated) (EUALAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Branded Fuels Wholesaling & Jobber Distribution (EUALAIAB), Commercial & Fleet Fueling (Cardlock, On-Site Tanks, Bulk Delivery) (EUALAIAD), Process Oils & White Oils (IMAEAMAK)

Keywords

• Petroleum products distribution
• Oil and gas exploration
• LPG distribution
• Fuel station network
• Industrial lubricants

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Petroleum Products Sales: Sale of petroleum products including crude oil, white fuels (petrol, diesel) through 110+ service stations network and bulk sales from Nairobi National Terminal. Products sold to major oil marketers, resellers, industrial and government businesses.
2. SupaGas LPG: Sale of SupaGas brand LPG in 3kg, 6kg, 13kg, and 50kg cylinders. Commercial customers supplied in bulk. Distributed through service stations, appointed distributors, and supermarkets. Also includes the Gas Yetu subsidized LPG program for households.
3. Supa Lubricants: Sale of Supa range of lubricating oils including Diesel Engine Oils, Passenger Car Motor Oils, Transmission Oils, Industrial Lubricants, Greases, and other automotive/industrial fluids. Available at service stations, SupaSERVICE centres, and authorized dealerships in various quantities and bulk.
4. SupaCard Fuel Cards: Pre-paid and post-paid fuel card programs offering Petrol, Diesel, Lubricants, and LPG purchases at National Oil stations. Pre-paid cards have Kshs 5,000 minimum with customization options. Post-paid offers 45-day interest free credit with bank guarantee requirement.
5. Alternative Business/Real Estate: Non-fuel businesses including rental of commercial properties (office space at Kawi House).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Oil Corporation of Kenya is a fully integrated state-owned petroleum company participating across the petroleum value chain. It engages in upstream oil and gas exploration, midstream importation and bulk storage, and downstream marketing of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, LPG (SupaGas, Gas Yetu), lubricants (Supa), and fuel card services (SupaCard) through 110+ service stations and authorized dealerships across Kenya.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SupaGas: LPG brand launched in 2008, available in 6kg, 13kg and 50kg cylinders, and for commercial customers in bulk.
• SupaCard
• Supa Lubricants
• Gas Yetu

Quantifiable outcome

• 10% inland retail market share achieved, up from 0.02% in 2008
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and strategic.

• SinopecminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2026Discussions held during World Geothermal Congress 2026 with Sinopec's representatives led by Managing Director and President Mr. Fan Chuanhong. Both parties expressed interest in partnering and reviewing opportunities related to Block T11 and natural gas prospects in Block A3. Subject to Sinopec's internal evaluation processes.
• Geothermal Development Company (GDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2021National Oil signed a multi-billion fuel supply deal with GDC to supply more than 10 million litres of fuel products to support GDC's geothermal operations. GDC is working on developing 1065MW from geothermal sources by 2030. This partnership exemplifies productive government agency cooperation and supports the 'Buy Kenya, Build Kenya' initiative.
• CFAO Kenya Limited (Toyota Tshusho Group)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2019Milestone MOU signed with CFAO Kenya and National Housing Corporation (NHC) to implement LPG reticulation for NHC residential units. Project kicked off with NHC's 75 residential apartments in Nairobi's South B estate. CFAO sets up reticulation infrastructure while NHC provides housing units access. National Oil supplies bulk gas under SupaGas brand and provides technical personnel.
• National Housing Corporation (NHC)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 August 2019Partnership with CFAO Kenya and National Oil to implement LPG reticulation for NHC residential units. Project started with 75 apartments in Nairobi's South B estate, expected full reticulation by end of December 2019 before rollout to other areas.
• Schlumberger LimitedcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 April 2018One-year engagement with Schlumberger, the world's number one oil and gas services company, to support National Oil in field development planning and production optimisation. Jointly developing a Field Development Plan (FDP) for Lokichar oil discoveries. Includes comprehensive skills transfer exercise with 25 staff from National Oil and Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, combining classroom-based and hands-on learning with mentorship programme.
• Ministry of Petroleum and Mining (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2018World Bank funded Kenya Petroleum Technical Assistance Project (KEPTAP) enabled National Oil to engage Schlumberger. 25 staff from both National Oil and Ministry participating in skills transfer exercise.
• BGP Kenya LimitedcoreTechnology or Integration · 21 August 2017Contracted BGP Kenya Limited, an affiliate of BGP International, to acquire up to 300 line km of 2D seismic data in the Magadi Sub Basin (Block 14T). Processing of seismic data done locally at BGP's Nairobi office with participation of National Oil geoscientists.
• JOGMEC (Japanese National Oil Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2017Ongoing collaboration with JOGMEC counterparts on exploration activities in Block 14T. National Oil geoscientists jointly work with JOGMEC on data interpretation following seismic acquisition and processing.
• Tullow Oil and Africa OilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Joint field development planning between Tullow, the Ministry of Exploration and Petroleum, and National Oil for the Lokichar oil discoveries in the Tertiary Rift Basin. Operators of Block T6 (formerly Block 10BB) where Kenya's first commercial oil discovery was made in 2012 with over 100 meters of net oil pay.
• Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Oil started downstream activities in March 1988 with importation of crude oil cargo for refining at Mombasa-based KPRL. Historically supplied 30% of country's petroleum requirements.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vivo Energy Kenya: Operates the former Shell-branded retail network across Kenya with a comparable downstream footprint (service stations, LPG, lubricants, fleet cards). Direct head-to-head competitor in the inland retail market where NOC holds ~10% share.
• Ola Energy Kenya: Active fuel marketer and service station operator in Kenya following the rebranding of Engen assets. Competes directly with NOC in retail fuel and lubricants, with similar footprint ambitions.
• Rubis Energy Kenya: Operates a multi-format retail network across Kenya including service stations, LPG distribution, and lubricants. Directly comparable on downstream product mix and customer segments to NOC's Supa brand portfolio.
• Gulf Energy Holdings: Kenyan-listed downstream oil company with service station network, LPG, and lubricants operations. Direct peer in the same domestic market with overlapping product lines.
• TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya: Multinational oil marketer with a large service station network, lubricants distribution, and B2B fuel supply in Kenya. Directly competes with NOC in retail fuel, lubricants, and LPG segments.

Emerging players

• Galana Energies (formerly Addax Petroleum Kenya): Operates Block 14T's neighboring exploration acreage and has been active in Kenya's upstream sector. Comparable as an exploration-stage operator in the same Tertiary Rift Basin where NOC holds its core upstream interest.

Regional players

• Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC): State-owned upstream/downstream entity in neighboring Tanzania that operates a similar national mandate for petroleum exploration, data management, and supply security. Comparable in role and structure to NOC's state-corporation mandate.
• Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC): Uganda's state-owned national oil company engaged in upstream operations and the proposed refinery project. Direct regional peer for upstream exploration, government partnership models, and the Lokichar/Albertine Graben development context.

Broad incumbents

• National Oil Corporation of Libya: African national oil corporation with integrated upstream-to-downstream operations including exploration data, fuel marketing, and distribution. Comparable as a state-owned integrated NOC peer in the African context.
• NNPC Limited (Nigerian National Petroleum Company): Vertically integrated African NOC with upstream, midstream, and downstream operations including retail service stations, LPG, and lubricants. Comparable in mandate and product breadth, though materially larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalOilKE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-oil-products

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Oil Corporation of Kenya