By Alfred Zacharia
PUMA Energy Tanzania, jointly owned by the Government of Tanzania and Puma Investments, is preparing to revise its strategic plan in line with a shareholders’ agreement aimed at accelerating growth and expanding its footprint in the country.
The announcement came during a visit by PUMA Energy’s top leadership to the Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR) on May 26, 2025.
Treasury Registrar Nehemiah Mchechu emphasized the importance of aligning the company’s strategy promptly to capitalize on upcoming opportunities starting next year.
“The management and the board will have to review the business strategy within this year for us to take advantage of good things starting next year,” Mr. Mchechu said, noting that the revised plan will be implemented beginning January 2026.
PUMA Energy Tanzania is equally owned by the government and Puma Investments Limited, each holding 50 percent equity. The company operates as a subsidiary of Puma Energy Holdings Pte Ltd, which is part of Trafigura PE Holding Ltd.
Highlighting the government’s strong backing, Mr. Mchechu described the investment as a strategic national asset. “Our investment in PUMA is strategic. It ensures government presence in the energy sector and the distribution network,” he said.
He further praised the company’s resilience during challenging times, noting, “Even in times of crisis, others may shut down — but not PUMA. We’re proud of the dividends received and the company’s performance.”
Mark Russel, PUMA Energy’s Global CEO, who was visiting Tanzania for the first time in his current role, expressed optimism about the country’s energy sector potential. He outlined plans to expand the company’s operations by broadening the distribution network and diversifying product offerings.
“We want to look at the strategy to see where we can build the business further, offering more to the community through our retail offering,” Mr. Russel said.
He added, “Tanzania is a very insightful country with many opportunities — including LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) projects. With the government, we’ll identify and unlock these together.”
Ben Quattara, PUMA Energy’s newly appointed Head of Africa, reiterated Tanzania’s pivotal role in the company’s continental strategy. “From Africa’s perspective, Tanzania remains a critical and important partner. We want to continue growing, investing, and improving our portfolio here,” he said.
He also emphasized the company’s commitment to community development through job creation and social impact initiatives. “The fact that Tanzania is our first visit in these roles clearly shows its importance to us,” Mr. Quattara added.
Fatma Abdallah, Managing Director of PUMA Energy Tanzania, reported strong financial performance and significant ongoing projects. She revealed that construction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations is underway, with operations expected to start within two to three months.
The LPG business has expanded beyond Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions into Dodoma, with plans to extend further to Mwanza and Arusha before the end of the year.
Financially, PUMA Tanzania achieved a 51 percent profit increase in 2024, with dividends scheduled for announcement on June 10, 2025.
“Expect big things from PUMA Tanzania in the months and years ahead,” Ms. Abdallah concluded.
