India has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in Tanzania’s energy sector following discussions between Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, and India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh.
The meeting, held on February 11, 2025, in New Delhi during India’s third Energy Week celebrations, focused on strengthening trade relations, increasing private sector investment in energy, and enhancing technical cooperation between the two nations.
Dr. Biteko emphasized that Tanzania remains open for investment and encouraged Indian companies to explore opportunities in electricity generation, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution, and bulk fuel procurement.
He highlighted the need for increased competition in the sector to ensure a stable energy supply. He also underscored Tanzania’s ambitious goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency, which requires an estimated $12 billion in investment—funds that cannot be secured without active private sector participation.
He further pointed out the benefits of Tanzania’s participation in India’s Energy Week, stating that India’s advancements in the energy sector offer valuable lessons and opportunities for collaboration.
He noted that Tanzania is preparing for its fifth oil and gas licensing round, which presents significant investment prospects for foreign companies.
On his part, Minister Singh reaffirmed India’s strong and growing trade relations with Tanzania, noting that India is keen to expand its business footprint in the country.
He emphasized India’s interest in supporting Tanzania’s National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy by investing in LPG distribution, citing India’s own success in achieving a 99.9% LPG penetration rate among its citizens.
He further revealed that India is ready to invest in oil and gas exploration, with several Indian companies already expressing interest in Tanzania’s upcoming licensing round.
Additionally, he stated that India is looking to invest in liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing and biofuels, while also deepening technical cooperation by providing capacity-building programs and facilitating expert exchanges between the two nations.
Minister Singh also commended Tanzania for its impressive progress in rural electrification and its clean cooking energy initiatives, particularly the government’s efforts to make LPG more accessible through subsidies.
He praised Dr. Biteko’s leadership in advocating for Africa’s energy resources, highlighting the continent’s untapped potential in coal and other energy sources that remain underdeveloped due to global policies.
The high-level discussions were attended by key stakeholders, including Idd Kassim, a representative of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, Engineer Innocent Luoga, Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy, and Dr. James Andilile, Director General of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).