Apply to EPRA for upstream petroleum permits (exploration, field development)
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Upstream permits, non-exclusive exploration permits and field development plan reviews go to EPRA: apply on the EPRA licensing portal with the documents it lists, or submit the field development plan to EPRA. EPRA decides within 60 days, and there is no fee in the 2026 service charter.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- How long
- Within 60 days (permits and exploration permits); field development plans within 60 days of submission
- Where
- Online on the EPRA licensing portal (portal.epra.go.ke). EPRA head office: Eagle Africa Centre, Longonot Road, Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Steps
- Pick your application type: field development plan review, upstream petroleum permit, ESIA report review, non-exclusive exploration permit or risk-based technical audit.
- For permits, apply on the EPRA licensing portal and attach all the documents listed for your permit type.
- For a field development plan (or an amendment), submit the plan to EPRA. EPRA reviews it within 60 days and makes a recommendation to the Cabinet Secretary, who approves, amends or rejects it.
- Upstream operational permits go through public participation with 21 working days' notice before EPRA decides.
Watch out
- For a non-exclusive exploration permit, EPRA notifies the affected county governments within its 60-day window.
- EPRA does not take ESIA reports directly from you: it reviews the report it receives from NEMA, with a site inspection, within 29 days.
- Read EPRA's 2025 upstream guidelines first: disaster preparedness, waste management, oil spill procedures and decommissioning.
Who can apply
- Oil and gas companies. Exploration blocks themselves come through a production sharing contract signed with the Cabinet Secretary for petroleum, not through EPRA.
Official sources (6)
- Upstream Petroleum Application Guidelines epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Upstream Petroleum Overview epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Instruments epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- EPRA Citizens' Service Delivery Charter 2026 epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- FAQs epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- EPRA Licensing Portal portal.epra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026