Dodoma: The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Nigeria’s FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited (FIRST E and P) to explore the Mnazi Bay North Block, marking a significant milestone in Tanzania’s upstream oil and gas sector. The two entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, laying the groundwork for collaboration in assessing and progressing hydrocarbon exploration and potential development in the Mnazi Bay North Block, located in the southern part of the country.

According to Nam News Network, this partnership represents a crucial advancement in Tanzania’s efforts to expand its energy sector. The government has expressed its full commitment to empowering TPDC with the mandate to develop the Mnazi Bay North Block, attract more partners, and broaden development to other available blocks. The government also plans to auction 26 offshore and Lake Tanganyika blocks as part of its broader efforts to revive and grow the upstream energy sector.

Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, the Chief Executive Officer of FIRST E and P, highlighted the company’s belief in Tanzania’s potential as a regional energy hub. He emphasized that the partnership with TPDC aims not just to explore but to convert discovered gas into real value that benefits Tanzania and the surrounding region. Adeyemi-Bero also noted Tanzania’s strategic location, bordering the Indian Ocean and several countries, positioning it as a natural energy hub for East and Central Africa.

The CEO praised TPDC for its professionalism and openness throughout the 15-month engagement leading to the MoU, stating that this collaborative spirit had established a solid foundation for a successful partnership. He expressed eagerness to move towards a definitive agreement and commence actual exploration work at Mnazi Bay North.

Mussa Makame, Managing Director of TPDC, emphasized the importance of intra-African collaboration in the energy transition era. He noted that as global conversations focus on energy transition, African companies working together to develop the continent’s resources bring greater value to Africa.