Ministry, PURA to strengthen public information on oil gas projects

DAR ES SALAAM: The Ministry of Energy and the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) have held discussions on strategies to strengthen public awareness of oil and natural gas exploration, development and production projects being implemented in the country.

The discussions took place on October 13, 2026, at PURA’s offices in Dar es Salaam and were attended by various officials, including the Head of the Government Communications Unit at the Ministry of Energy, Ms Nteghenjwa Hosseah, and the Head of Local Content and Stakeholder Engagement at PURA, Mr Charles Nyangi.

Speaking during the meeting, Ms Hosseah said the Government, through the Ministry of Energy, continued to implement various projects, including oil and natural gas exploration, development and production initiatives. However, she noted that public awareness of these projects remained inadequate, leaving many citizens with limited understanding of the ongoing activities.

“We currently have several upstream petroleum projects underway, including the acquisition of 3D seismic data in the Lindi–Mtwara Block, the acquisition of 2D seismic data in the Eyasi–Wembere Block, and preparations for drilling natural gas wells in the Ruvuma Block. However, public understanding of these projects and their benefits remains limited,” Ms Hosseah explained.

She added that although the projects involve highly technical issues, the Ministry of Energy and its institutions have a responsibility to ensure that the public receives timely information about their implementation in simple and accessible language. This, she said, would help improve public understanding of the projects.

For his part, Mr Nyangi said PURA would continue to strengthen public communication about ongoing projects while building journalists’ capacity to report on upstream petroleum activities.

“In addition to using various media platforms to disseminate information, PURA has continued to facilitate training for journalists and provide opportunities for them to visit sites where upstream petroleum projects are being implemented across the country. The aim is to enhance the understanding of these key stakeholders, who play an important role in informing the public,” Mr Nyangi added.