Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Tanzania has intensified efforts to attract exploration and production (E&P) investors, showcasing its vast natural gas resources, favourable investment climate and ambitious plans to become a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hub in Africa.
Speaking during a Fireside Dialogue on Tanzania’s Upstream Future with AOW Energy’s Paul Sinclair, the Managing Director of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), Eng. Charles Sangweni, said the country is leveraging its 57.54 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven natural gas reserves, successful deepwater exploration history and stable policy environment to draw strategic investors into its upstream sector.
According to Sangweni, Tanzania’s hydrocarbon sector has evolved significantly, moving beyond its frontier status to become an increasingly attractive destination for long-term upstream investment.
“Tanzania offers a compelling combination of scale, prospectivity and geological consistency. The repeatability of exploration success across several offshore blocks has reduced exploration risks while preserving significant upside potential for investors,” he said.
Sangweni highlighted the country’s petroleum journey, tracing key milestones from the discovery of gas at Songo Songo in 1974 and Mnazi Bay in 1982 to the major deepwater discoveries made in the Indian Ocean between 2010 and 2015, which elevated Tanzania’s standing in the global energy industry.
While offshore assets continue to attract interest, he noted that substantial opportunities remain in the country’s underexplored onshore and shallow-water basins, offering additional prospects for future discoveries.
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The TPDC boss described natural gas as a critical driver of Tanzania’s economic transformation, supporting industrialisation, power generation, job creation and broader energy access. He added that gas also serves as a practical transition fuel due to its relatively lower carbon emissions compared to other conventional fossil fuels.
Beyond meeting domestic demand, Tanzania is advancing plans for a major LNG project in Lindi, aimed at unlocking export markets and strengthening the country’s position as a regional energy hub. He noted that the National Natural Gas Pipeline, which links gas-producing fields in the south to Dar es Salaam, is already supporting electricity generation and industrial activities.
Sangweni revealed that the Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay fields supplied billions of cubic feet of gas to Tanzania’s domestic market between 2021 and 2025, underlining the strategic importance of natural gas to the country’s economy.
On the investment climate, he stressed that Tanzania has undertaken significant reforms to create a stable, predictable and transparent operating environment for investors.
“Upstream petroleum investments are long-term by nature. Tanzania has made substantial progress in strengthening its legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks to ensure investors have confidence in the market while delivering sustainable value to the nation,” he stated.
The country, he said, is particularly interested in attracting partners that can bring not only capital but also advanced technology, innovation and a strong commitment to local content development, technology transfer and capacity building.
Sangweni identified AOW Energy as an important platform for engaging potential investors and communicating Tanzania’s strategic priorities to the global energy community.
“It provides an opportunity to showcase Tanzania’s resource potential, highlight our investment opportunities and attract the next generation of strategic partners. We want the international market to know that Tanzania is ready for business,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of regional cooperation among East African countries, particularly in areas such as LNG infrastructure, pipeline development and cross-border energy trade, noting that collaboration would strengthen Africa’s competitiveness in global energy markets.
Although financing constraints, infrastructure gaps and the evolving global energy transition remain challenges, Sangweni expressed confidence that these obstacles can be overcome through strong partnerships, sound policy frameworks and long-term planning.
“With the right collaboration and investment approach, Tanzania is well positioned to unlock the full value of its petroleum resources responsibly and sustainably,” he added.
