MOROGORO: Deputy Minister of Energy, Ms. Judith Kapinga has directed the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) to continue attracting investment in open oil and natural gas blocks to increase the amount of energy in the country.
Ms. Kapinga said in Morogoro district while opening a session of the PURA Staff Council aimed at discussing various issues including the Institution’s Plan and Budget for the 2025/26 financial year.
“If you succeed in attracting investment in oil and gas exploration activities, the country will increase the discovery of this important resource including increasing the cubic feet of gas available in the country”, said Ms. Kapinga
She continued to say “if you continue to attract investment through the Fifth Round of bidding for blocks to be launched in March 2025, with the existing benefits, you will have continued the efforts of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan to continue to open Tanzania economically and attract more investment”, said, Mrs. Kapinga
She said the Ministry of Energy recognizes the importance of the Fifth Round of bidding for oil and natural gas exploration blocks in the country as well as recognizing the great work that has been done towards the launch of the event which she said is important in
attracting more investment in oil and natural gas exploration activities in the country.
“For a long time now we have been talking about the discovery of 57.54 trillion cubic feet alone, it is time to do more and more so that we can increase the discovery of this important resource for the development of the Nation”, stressed, Mrs. Kapinga
During the Staff Council session, she commended the PURA leadership for continuing to involve its employees in discussing, planning and approving the plans and Budget of the Institution at the Staff Council as well as the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Act in the Public Service.
She said that the holding of such sessions is a clear sign of good governance in the workplace since employees get the opportunity to contribute their ideas about the operating status of the Institution thus continuing to be an important part of the Institution.
PURA Director General, Engineer Charles Sangweni, said the fifth (5) round of bidding for oil and natural gas exploration blocks in the country is expected to be launched in March, 2025 in Dar es Salaam during the East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE’25).
He said PURA continues to manage and control the exploration, development and production of natural gas in various blocks in the country and to ensure that indigenous Tanzanians are involved in various upstream petroleum projects in the country.
