Tanzanian entrepreneur Rostam Azizi has won a crucial legal battle, clearing the way for the construction of Africa’s largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminal in Mombasa. The Environment and Land Court in Mombasa dismissed a petition challenging the 30,000-tonne Taifa Gas project, affirming that the company adhered to all legal and environmental requirements.
The KSh 17 billion (USD 130 million) terminal is anticipated to accelerate LPG adoption in Kenya, stabilise fuel prices, and strengthen energy cooperation between Kenya and Tanzania.
Justice Stephen Kibunja upheld a preliminary objection in Petition No. E006 of 2025, confirming that Taifa Gas had lawfully obtained its Environmental Impact Assessment licence and fully complied with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) alongside other regulatory safeguards. The court also noted that the project’s environmental assessments had already been validated by both the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the National Environment Tribunal (NET), and that the petitioners had raised similar concerns in a previous 2022 case.
Following the ruling, Taifa Gas founder Rostam Azizi described the decision as validation of the company’s commitment to due process and environmental stewardship. He highlighted the project as a significant step in Kenya’s clean-energy transition, improving access to cleaner cooking fuels, enhancing regional energy security, and generating new economic opportunities. Azizi also emphasised the company’s investments in community development, particularly initiatives aimed at economically empowering women near the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone.
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Taifa Group General Counsel Timothy Kyepa stated that the ruling reinforces investor confidence in Kenya’s legal and environmental frameworks, ensuring finality in approvals and discouraging protracted litigation that can delay critical projects.
The LPG terminal is set to support Kenya’s target of raising LPG adoption from 24% to 70% by 2028 under the Ministry of Energy’s clean-cooking strategy. In addition to reducing import bottlenecks and stabilising prices, the facility will strengthen regional energy integration through platforms like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the East African Community.
As a subsidiary of Taifa Group, Taifa Gas is among East Africa’s leading energy firms, with investments spanning LPG, solar, logistics, agriculture, aviation, and telecommunications. The Dongo Kundu terminal is expected to cement Kenya’s status as a regional LPG hub while creating employment and boosting competitiveness within the energy sector.
