The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has launched a long-term strategic plan aimed at transforming the country’s energy landscape through expanded oil and natural gas exploration and infrastructure development.
Unveiled in Dodoma on Tuesday, the 25-year blueprint — covering the period from 2024/25 to 2049/50 — prioritises the development of key exploration blocks such as Mnazi Bay North, Eyasi Wembere, and Songo Songo West. The plan also includes the advancement of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) processing and export facility, expected to play a pivotal role in both domestic energy supply and international trade.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Dr Doto Biteko urged TPDC to expedite work on these energy projects and expand investment in pipeline infrastructure. He emphasised the importance of leveraging modern technologies like Mini-LNG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to ensure wider energy access across the country, particularly in areas beyond the Mtwara–Dar es Salaam pipeline corridor.
“As we mark this milestone, we reaffirm TPDC’s central role in securing national energy availability. The oil and gas sector is vital to our development journey,” Dr Biteko said.
He also called on the corporation to reduce its dependency on state funding by improving internal revenue streams, operational efficiency, and commercial viability. He praised TPDC for already beginning to pay staff salaries from self-generated income.
Dr Biteko extended appreciation to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her leadership in the energy sector, highlighting achievements such as the completion of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, which has bolstered energy reliability nationwide.
Also present at the event, Zanzibar’s Minister for Water, Energy and Minerals, Shaib Kaduara, described the plan as a landmark move that strengthens Tanzania’s position in the regional energy market. He underscored the importance of national unity and stability as key enablers of such progress.
TPDC Board Chairperson Ambassador Ombeni Sefue noted that the strategy aligns with the government’s broader development agenda, including the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) manifesto and Tanzania’s Vision 2050. The plan aims to fuel industrialisation, generate employment, and ensure access to clean, affordable energy for all.
The strategic vision positions Tanzania as an emerging hub in the global energy market while seeking to meet the growing demands of its own people and industries.
