EACOP, partners connect students to energy opportunities
ZANZIBAR: THE East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Empower Limited, and TotalEnergies Tanzania have jointly hosted the third Youth Energy Forum to raise awareness of Africa’s evolving energy landscape and connect students with employment and skills development opportunities in the sector.
The Forum, held under the theme ‘Trends Influencing the Future of Energy and Emerging Opportunities’, brought together over 130 university students from across Zanzibar and key energy sector stakeholders.
The Co-founder of Asilia Energy and TPDC Director of Exploration, Development and Production, Mr Kenneth Mutaonga, encouraged youth to embrace the evolving energy sector and its wide range of career opportunities.
“Energy demand is rising globally and in Tanzania, creating job opportunities across sectors from law to nursing,” Mutaonga said.
He said with country electricity demand growing 10 per cent annually, projects like the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant are key, but long-term sustainability depends on skilled youth stepping in.
TotalEnergies Tanzania’s Director of Legal, Corporate Affairs, HR and Admin Ms Getrude Mpangile said the forum started in Dar es Salaam in 2023, continued in Dodoma in 2024, and now in Zanzibar.
“These forums help students understand the evolving energy sector and stay competitive in the job market,” Ms Mpangile said.
“We’re helping youth access industrial training, scholarships, and learn from global experts,” she said.
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Additionally, she said, last year TotalEnergies introduced home cooking gas to support the government’s clean energy agenda, and the plan is to expand to Zanzibar soon.
Representing the youth, nursing and midwifery student Ms Swaumu Juma Ali said she used to think energy had no link to health, but she learned it’s essential— from ICU temperatures to vaccine storage.
“As nurses, energy affects our work every day. I also discovered career opportunities with TotalEnergies after graduation,” she said.
