Oil & Gas

Tanzania has explored only 30 per cent of its identified oil and gas prospective areas, leaving more than 370,000 square kilometres yet to be assessed for potential petroleum discoveries. The Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) said about 534,000 square kilometres had been identified as having oil and gas potential, but preliminary exploration had so far covered only around 162,000 square kilometres.

PURA Director General Charles Sangweni said Tanzania had conducted petroleum exploration since the early 1950s, with much of the prospective area covered by sedimentary rocks capable of holding oil and gas deposits. Although the country has not yet discovered commercial crude oil, exploration is continuing in various parts of Tanzania. Meanwhile, natural gas reserves have reached an estimated 57.54 trillion cubic feet (tcf), with production currently taking place at Mnazi Bay and Songo Songo, while the Ntorya gas field is expected to further increase output.

Mr Sangweni said the large unexplored area presents significant opportunities for future petroleum discoveries as advances in exploration technology improve the ability to identify potential deposits. The government is also pursuing projects to increase the value of natural gas, including the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in Lindi Region, which is intended to process gas for export to international markets.

He said continued development of the petroleum sector would require skilled Tanzanians capable of participating across the industry's value chain. The government has strengthened oil and gas training through institutions including the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and vocational training institutions such as VETA. Mr Sangweni added that PURA was working to ensure local communities benefit from employment opportunities linked to petroleum activities, while continued exploration, gas processing and skills development would increase the sector's contribution to the national economy.