The Minister for Energy, Deogratous Ndejembi, has directed the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) to strengthen its institutional capacity and strategic planning to enable Tanzanians to actively participate in major energy projects, particularly the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) initiative.
Speaking on February 26, 2026, during the Fifth Session of the Second Meeting of PURA’s Workers’ Council in Morogoro, the minister emphasized the need for improved data collection, rigorous assessment of exploration blocks, and early preparation of local expertise to support the country’s long-term energy ambitions.
He said the energy sector plays a critical role in achieving the objectives of the National Development Vision 2050, stressing that institutions under the Ministry of Energy must ensure the sustainable, secure and reliable development of petroleum and natural gas resources.
“The energy sector has been identified as one of the key drivers of the national economy. Regulatory institutions have a responsibility to ensure that oil and gas resources are developed in a way that delivers maximum benefits to the nation,” Mr Ndejembi said.
He urged PURA to scale up efforts in collecting, managing and analysing geological data, noting that vast areas of the country remain underexplored. According to the minister, credible and comprehensive data is essential for attracting investment and accelerating discoveries in the upstream petroleum sector.
“Reliable data forms the backbone of investment decisions. Without adequate information and strong preliminary studies, it is difficult to sustainably develop the sector,” he said.
The minister further instructed PURA to conduct thorough reviews of existing exploration blocks, particularly in the Tanga and Ruvu zones, to determine whether licence holders are fulfilling their contractual exploration commitments. He warned against allowing blocks to remain idle in the hands of investors who are not undertaking meaningful exploration activities, saying regulators must take decisive action where progress is lacking.
On the LNG project, Mr Ndejembi called on PURA to begin early preparations to build the institutional capacity required to effectively oversee the project. He also underscored the importance of developing local skills and expertise to ensure Tanzanians are well positioned to participate across the entire LNG value chain, rather than waiting for the project’s implementation phase.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy responsible for petroleum and natural gas, Dr James Mataragio, urged PURA to remain focused on its core regulatory mandates as outlined at the time of its establishment, noting that effective regulation is essential for the orderly and sustainable development of the upstream oil and gas sector.