The Chairman of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) Board of Directors, Amb. Ombeni Sefue, has called for stronger regional integration to ensure East Africa fully captures the long-term value of its emerging oil and gas developments.
Speaking at the 11th Annual Oil & Gas Convention under the joint commitment “First Oil: Fulfil the Promise, Forging the Future,” Amb. Sefue said the region has reached a defining stage in which discoveries and infrastructure investments must now be translated into measurable economic outcomes.
He argued that the attainment of “First Oil” should not be interpreted as a destination, but as a transition point that shifts the focus toward delivery, governance, and sustained value creation.
According to him, the true test lies in whether resource potential can be converted into durable national and regional development gains.
“First Oil is not the finish line. It is the beginning of responsibility the point where vision must become tangible value for our economies and our people,” he said.
Amb. Sefue pointed to Uganda’s oil development progress as evidence of how aligned leadership, coherent policy frameworks, and international partnerships can unlock large-scale energy infrastructure.
He said this progress has helped strengthen investor confidence in East Africa’s ability to execute complex energy projects.
He noted that Uganda’s trajectory has also generated wider regional momentum, encouraging deeper collaboration in energy planning and infrastructure development across borders.
At the centre of this integration, Amb. Sefue highlighted the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), describing it as a defining example of cross-border cooperation between Uganda and Tanzania.
He said the project demonstrates how shared infrastructure can go beyond energy transportation to create broader economic linkages, improve resilience, and support inclusive regional growth.
“It is more than a pipeline. It is a corridor of cooperation and a demonstration that when we act together, we create opportunity and shared growth,” he said.
Amb. Sefue also underscored Tanzania’s growing strategic role in the regional energy architecture, citing the steady expansion of its natural gas sector and LNG development agenda. He said this trajectory reflects policy consistency and long-term planning that continue to position Tanzania as a key energy hub in East Africa.
He further pointed to planned cross-border infrastructure, including a natural gas pipeline linking Tanzania and Uganda and a white products pipeline, saying these initiatives would strengthen energy security, improve supply reliability, and reduce regional energy costs.
“These projects are at advanced stages and reflect a model of cooperation built on trust already established through EACOP,” he said.
Beyond East Africa, Amb. Sefue highlighted developments in Mozambique’s LNG sector and emerging oil discoveries in Namibia as indicators of a broader shift in Africa’s energy landscape.
He said these developments should be viewed not in isolation, but as interconnected components of an emerging continental energy system with the potential to enhance Africa’s competitiveness in global markets.
According to him, the central question facing the region is no longer the existence of resources, but the ability to coordinate effectively to maximize their collective value.
Amb. Sefue emphasized that energy security now depends on integration of infrastructure, markets, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships rather than isolated national initiatives.
He added that the ultimate measure of success will be the extent to which oil and gas developments translate into structural economic transformation, job creation, and improved livelihoods.
“Our legacy will not be defined by the resources we extract, but by the future we build together,” he said.
