Deputy Minister of Energy, Salome Makamba, has called on the Petroleum Bulk Procurement Agency (PBPA) to prioritize local investors in the energy sector.
She said doing so will boost competition, strengthen local participation, and contribute to building a sustainable economy that benefits more Tanzanians.
Ms. Salome made the remarks during a visit to PBPA offices in Dar es Salaam, where she met with agency leaders and other officials under the Ministry of Energy.
She stressed the importance of creating a business-friendly environment that allows domestic companies to actively participate in the importation, transport, and distribution of petroleum products.
“Currently, there are about 86 local companies engaged in petroleum trading, compared to only five foreign ones. This information should be widely known to Tanzanians, as it reflects the government’s commitment to empowering local investors. Citizens need to see that local companies are given opportunities to thrive, which ultimately supports our goal of building a sustainable economy benefiting the majority,” she said.
Ms. Salome also urged PBPA to strengthen collaboration with businesses and other government institutions to further enhance economic growth.
She emphasized the need to communicate the agency’s achievements clearly to the public using modern communication methods.
“In today’s world, people need accurate, timely, and easily understandable information to recognize the value of the work done by the government and its institutions. I commend PBPA for its achievements, but to make this work visible, we must adopt modern communication strategies that reach many people effectively,” she added.
She noted that effective public communication strengthens community relations, accountability, and ensures that citizens can see the tangible results of government work.
PBPA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Erasto Simon, highlighted the agency’s progress in strengthening petroleum infrastructure and learning from other countries.
“Since 2019, PBPA has ensured that Tanzania has a stable supply of petroleum. Countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique have visited to learn from our systems, showing the significant achievements in this sector,” he said.
Mr. Simon also revealed that the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is constructing a modern Single Receiving Terminal to increase efficiency in receiving petroleum products.
Once completed, the terminal will reduce congestion, speed up services, and simplify loading and unloading operations.