Govt strengthens TPDC’s oil and gas exploration capacity with four new licences

Dar es Salaam. The government has strengthened the capacity of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) in oil and natural gas exploration by awarding the state company four exploration licences, enabling it to hold its own blocks and take part directly in the exploration and development of the country’s hydrocarbon resources.

The minister for Energy, Dr Juma Zuberi Homera, announced the development on October 28, 2026 at the signing ceremony for the four licences, held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Homera said the move is grounded in the Petroleum Act of 2015, which allows TPDC to hold exploration blocks of its own and thereby reinforces the corporation’s ability to participate directly in the search for oil and gas.

“The government will continue to strengthen oversight of the oil and natural gas sector by ensuring that all activities are carried out in compliance with the law, with due regard for safety and environmental protection, and in the broader interest of the nation,” the minister said.

He also stressed the importance of close cooperation among the ministry of Energy, TPDC, the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) and other stakeholders in the sector.

Such collaboration, he said, is essential to ensure that exploration and development activities are delivered efficiently and that each institution discharges its responsibilities in accordance with the law.

Dr Homera said the government is also continuing efforts to increase the country’s natural gas reserves. He noted that drilling of three wells in the Mnazi Bay block in Mtwara Region has been completed, of which two are production wells and one is an appraisal well.

Alongside the push to expand exploration and production, he said, the government is widening the use of natural gas in electricity generation, households, industry and institutions, as well as in vehicles through compressed natural gas (CNG) technology.