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ENTEBBE, UGANDA – In a significant move set to bolster the East African oil and natural gas sector, the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) of Tanzania, the Zanzibar Petroleum Regulatory Authority (ZPRA), and the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement, inked recently in Entebbe, Uganda, aims to foster cooperation and enhance exploration, development, and production activities across the region.
The signing ceremony brought together key figures from the three regulatory bodies. Notable attendees included Mr. Halfan Halfan, Chairman of PURA’s Board of Directors, and Ms. Lynda Biribonwa, Chairperson of PAU’s Board of Directors. Also present were Eng. Charles Sangweni, Director General of PURA; Eng. Ernest Rubondo, Executive Director of PAU; and Eng. Muhammed Said, Managing Director of ZPRA.
Under the terms of the new agreement, PURA, PAU, and ZPRA will collaborate on critical aspects of the oil and gas value chain. This includes joint efforts in oil and gas resource management, efficient petroleum data management, and rigorous cost auditing. Furthermore, the MoU outlines cooperation in areas vital for sustainable development, such as promoting community participation in oil and gas projects, upholding robust health, safety, and environment (HSE) standards, and harmonizing the formulation of laws, regulations, and guidelines governing exploration, development, and production activities.
Mr. Halfan Halfan, PURA Board Chairman, emphasized the strategic importance of this collaboration. “Exchanging experience and building institutional capacity among the three authorities is crucial for the growth of the oil and gas industry in Tanzania and Uganda,” he stated. He added that the agreement would “significantly strengthen” exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas in both countries.
Echoing this sentiment, Ms. Lynda Biribonwa, PAU Board Chairperson, underscored the necessity of inter-regulatory cooperation to ensure the sustainable development of the East African region’s oil and gas resources.
This latest agreement reinforces the growing strategic partnership between Tanzania and Uganda in the energy sector. The two nations are already jointly implementing the ambitious East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. This vital infrastructure initiative will transport crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert oilfields to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, facilitating its onward sale to global markets.
The EACOP, a 1,443km buried, thermally insulated 24-inch pipeline, originates in Kabaale, Hoima district, Uganda, and culminates at the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania. With approximately 80 percent of its length traversing Tanzania, the pipeline is supported by six pumping stations – two in Uganda and four in Tanzania – and features a terminal and jetty at Tanga Port.
Considered a cornerstone for Uganda to unlock the value of its natural resources, EACOP represents a substantial inward investment of approximately $4 billion across both Uganda and Tanzania, extending significant value creation to Tanzania. Beyond its primary function, this new corridor is anticipated to catalyze the development of new infrastructure, enhance logistics, facilitate technology transfer, and ultimately improve the livelihoods of communities situated along its route.
