Deputy Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga speaks at the Africa Oil Week conference in South Africa. Photo: Courtesy
By The Respondent reporter
Tanzania's Deputy Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga, has announced that the government, through the Ministry of Energy, will begin the process of auctioning 24 oil and natural gas exploration blocks in March 2025. This announcement comes ahead of the East Africa Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, set to be hosted in Tanzania.
Speaking at the Africa Oil Week conference in South Africa, which gathered participants from 70 countries to discuss global oil and gas matters, Kapinga revealed that the Ministry of Energy is preparing to promote all 24 blocks, with 21 located in the Indian Ocean and others in Lake Tanganyika.
Oil and gas exploration activities in Tanzania date back to the 1950s. To date, the country has discovered approximately 57 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which is used for electricity generation, automotive fuel, industrial energy, and domestic purposes. Kapinga emphasized Tanzania's commitment to international energy transition goals and promoting natural gas use as a cleaner energy alternative.
Regarding clean cooking energy, she highlighted the national agenda spearheaded by President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, in collaboration with various stakeholders, to ensure wider adoption of cleaner energy solutions.
During the conference, Kapinga also outlined the vast investment opportunities in Tanzania’s energy sector and invited international investors to explore these opportunities. She assured potential investors that the government would continue fostering a conducive investment environment, especially in oil and gas exploration.
Touching on the electricity sector, Kapinga detailed ongoing projects aimed at strengthening the national grid, including the Kishapu Solar Power Project and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, which will generate 2,115 megawatts, alongside other initiatives such as wind power projects.
Kapinga further noted that Tanzania has revised its Petroleum Act and updated its model production-sharing agreements to ensure fair and competitive economic and legal terms, making the sector attractive to both regional and international investors.
She also highlighted the country’s existing supportive infrastructure for oil and gas transport, including the natural gas pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam, three gas processing plants, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, and the Tazama pipeline linking Tanzania and Zambia.
Also in attendance at the conference were other key Tanzanian officials, including the Ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr. James Mataragio; Petroleum Commissioner, Godluck Shirima; TPDC Board Chairman, Ambassador Ombeni Y. Sefue; PURA Board Chairman, Halfani Halfani; and Charles Sangweni, Director-General of the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (Pura), alongside other senior officials and experts from the Ministry of Energy and its agencies.
Tanzania's efforts to enhance investment in its energy sector underscore the country’s commitment to becoming a key player in the global oil and gas industry.
