The Respondent Reporter
Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga, reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to deepening collaboration with Saudi Arabia in the energy sector. She emphasized areas such as oil and gas, renewable energy, and clean cooking solutions as key priorities for this partnership.
Speaking during her meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Engineer Mohammed Albrahim, on December 19, 2024, in Riyadh, Ms. Kapinga highlighted the long-standing relationship between the two nations, particularly in oil trade and development projects.
She noted the growing demand for energy in Tanzania and called for increased investments in energy infrastructure to drive the country’s economic progress.
"Tanzania and Saudi Arabia have a rich history of collaboration in the energy sector. Our shared vision is to expand and enhance this partnership, particularly in oil and gas, renewable energy, and clean cooking solutions," Hon. Kapinga stated.
She further explained that as a developing nation, Tanzania is focused on improving its energy infrastructure to support its broader development agenda.
To achieve this, the country seeks partnerships with experienced global players, including Saudi Arabia, to leverage their expertise in areas such as exploration, production, and technology transfer.
Hon. Kapinga acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s reputation for leadership in oil and gas production and its investments across the globe, including in East Africa.
She emphasized that Tanzania, endowed with significant natural gas reserves and potential oil deposits, stands to benefit greatly from Saudi Arabia’s technical expertise and financial support in resource extraction, refining, and infrastructure development.
She also noted that a robust energy sector would position Tanzania to supply electricity to neighboring countries expressing interest in importing power from Tanzania.
In response, Engineer Mohammed Albrahim highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to further investments in critical infrastructure, environmental conservation, and the energy sector.
He emphasized the country’s focus on clean energy, aligning with global trends to reduce environmental impact while maintaining its status as a leading oil producer.
“Saudi Arabia recognizes Tanzania’s leadership in advancing clean cooking energy initiatives, spearheaded by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. We are eager to collaborate further to achieve mutually beneficial goals in energy development,” said Engineer Albrahim.
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister also reiterated his country’s readiness to work closely with Tanzania in developing renewable energy and clean cooking energy solutions, which are crucial for achieving sustainable development in both nations.