Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation

Establishment

The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) was established in 1969 through Government Notice No. 140 under the Public Corporations Act No. 17 of 1969.

It was created as the National Oil Company of Tanzania, mandated to undertake petroleum exploration, development, and production on behalf of the Government of Tanzania.

Early Years (1970s – 1980s)

• Focused on oil and gas exploration with international partners.
• The 1970s energy crisis highlighted the need for domestic energy security.
• Natural gas was discovered at Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay.
• Commercial development was slow due to financial and technical challenges.

⚡ Gas Development (1990s – 2000s)

• Songo Songo Gas-to-Electricity Project (early 2000s): supplied natural gas to Dar es Salaam for power generation.
• Mnazi Bay Gas Project: supported regional gas supply.
• ✅ These projects reduced dependence on imported fuel for electricity generation.

Oil and Gas Boom (2010s)

• Major offshore natural gas discoveries in deep-sea blocks along Tanzania’s coast.
• Partnerships with Equinor (formerly Statoil), Shell (formerly BG Group), Ophir, and ExxonMobil.
• Tanzania was projected to become a major LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) player in East Africa.
• TPDC became the commercial entity to manage petroleum resources and represent the Government in production-sharing agreements.

Reform and Strengthening (2015 – Present)

In 2015, Tanzania enacted three landmark laws:

1. Petroleum Act, 2015 – strengthened TPDC as the National Oil Company with exclusive rights.
2. Oil and Gas Revenues Management Act, 2015 – ensured effective management of petroleum revenues.
3. Tanzania Extractive Industries (Transparency and Accountability) Act, 2015 – promoted transparency and accountability.

TPDC’s expanded role:

• Holding petroleum blocks on behalf of the Government.
• Managing midstream and downstream operations, including gas pipelines and distribution.
• Participating in the planned LNG project at Lindi.
• Overseeing the National Natural Gas Infrastructure Project (NNGIP) from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam.

VISION

A sustainable regional company for affordable, reliable and innovative sources of energy with a global footprint.

MISSION

To ensure energy security and access through efficient exploration, production, processing, and distribution of affordable and sustainable energy solutions to customers.