Nigeria’s FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tanzania’s TPDC to explore and possibly develop the gas-rich Mnazi Bay North Block in southern Tanzania. They signed the agreement at TPDC’s headquarters in Dodoma as part of Tanzania’s drive to harness its natural gas potential and expand regional energy supply. Key stakeholders, government officials, and industry leaders from both nations attended the event.
Under the agreement, FIRST E&P will fully fund the technical assessment phase of the project. This investment shows the company’s confidence in the block’s prospects and signals its commitment to long-term operations in Tanzania’s upstream sector.
Currently, FIRST E&P produces around 57,000 barrels of oil per day in Nigeria through a joint venture with NNPC. It is now broadening its reach beyond West Africa. The company’s Managing Director, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, explained that the partnership reflects their goal to drive continent-wide growth using strong technical capabilities and a performance-driven culture. He highlighted Tanzania’s strategic location as ideal for becoming a regional energy hub.
He added that with the right investment and regulations, Tanzania could lead in distributing gas across Sub-Saharan Africa, boosting cross-border trade and strengthening energy security. He emphasized that the partnership with TPDC is rooted in long-term development goals and mutual trust—not just profit.
From the Tanzanian side, the MoU aligns with national efforts to grow the domestic gas industry. Commissioner Godluck Shirima noted that the 2015 Petroleum Act empowered TPDC to form joint ventures for upstream development and called the Mnazi Bay North Block a key national asset. He praised the collaboration between TPDC, PURA, and the Ministry of Energy for bringing the partnership to life.
TPDC’s Managing Director, Mussa Makame, pointed out that millions of Tanzanians still depend on biomass for cooking. He said that expanding gas production will improve public health, protect the environment, and increase energy access. He also welcomed African-owned companies like FIRST E&P into Tanzania’s energy sector, stressing the importance of technical cooperation and local value creation.
FIRST E&P’s entry into Tanzania marks another step in its pan-African growth. In Nigeria, the company holds key licenses—such as PML 53 and 54—and earned industry recognition for achieving first oil in 2020 and quickly scaling production afterward.
Source:pumps-africa.com
African Energy Council