PURA Board commends CSR projects in gas production areas

LINDI: THE Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA)’s board of directors has visited natural gas production and processing facilities in Songosongo, Lindi Region, as well as inspected projects implemented under corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives by companies operating in the area.

The regulator’s board members, led by Chairperson Halfani Halfani, toured facilities operated by PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Ltd (PAET) and GASCO, a subsidiary of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC).

Compared to previous years, Mr Halfani noted that PAET and GASCO have doubled their efforts in implementing CSR projects.

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He expressed gratitude to the government for formulating regulations under the Petroleum Act of 2015, which have contributed to this progress.

“We are very pleased to see that companies have built pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as a girls’ dormitory and a health center. For 20 years, they have been paying school fees for girls selected to study in Kilwa,” said Halfani.

On his part, PURA’s Director General, Engineer Charles Sangweni, stated that the tour was specifically arranged to help board members understand on-the-ground activities, enabling them to make well-informed decisions.

“One of PURA’s core responsibilities is to oversee all activities related to gas and oil exploration and extraction processes. We organize these tours as part of capacity building for board members, allowing them to gain a broader perspective for discussions and decision-making,” said Eng Sangweni.

After touring the natural gas facilities and CSR projects, Engineer Hamdun Mansur, one of PURA’s board members, said the visit had provided valuable insights into natural gas processing and urged the regulator to continue fulfilling its mandate effectively.