Invest earnings from Petroleum Sector prudently, EAC Partner States urged
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 6th March, 2025: East African Community (EAC) Partner States have been called upon to invest revenues from the emerging petroleum sector in development projects, creating jobs and environmental restoration initiatives.
Tanzania’s Vice President, H.E. Philip Mpango, further said that for the benefit of future generations and in the spirit of responsibility, Partner States’ petroleum exploitation policies should include the allocation of a percentage of revenues from petroleum resources into a savings fund for future use.
While acknowledging the negative impact of climate change on the environment and people’s livelihoods, the Vice President urged the bloc to strike a balance between growth and sustainability by solving today`s problems while preparing solutions for tomorrow`s challenges.
“Petroleum resources continue to play a crucial role in today’s energy mix. By using these resources responsibly, we can drive development while leveraging the revenue generated to transition toward a greener future,” said VP Mpango.
“Technological innovation has led to advancement in oil and gas technologies, including cleaner extraction methods and potential for carbon capture and storage. This development gives a window of opportunity to developing countries to maximise extraction of their petroleum resources sustainably,” added the VP.
The Vice President who officially opened the 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE’25) at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on behalf of H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, said that East Africa should prioritise transitioning to cleaner sources of energy, as it is a crucial strategy for decarbonisation.
“Investments in renewable energy are capital-intensive and require specialised skills to operate and manage. It is estimated that Africa needs between US$ 1 and 2 trillion to meet the clean energy transition targets by 2030. In response, Tanzania has implemented policies and programmes to encourage investment in renewable energy, as manifested by the current status where renewable sources take the lead in the energy mix,” said the VP.
“Given that petroleum resources are locally available, it makes sense for African countries to develop them now as a foundation towards energy transition. To accelerate this process and attain sustainable development goals, a public-private partnership model should be pursued. The private sector should provide financial and technical support, while the public sector creates a favourable investment environment,” added H.E. Mpango.
The VP further said that East Africa’s energy challenges include limited access to modern energy and reliance on biomass, which has an impact on the region’s economic development.
“According to 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the seventh goal calls for ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. To achieve this goal, our governments have embarked on various projects such as rural electrification and promotion of clean cooking initiatives to ensure energy accessibility for sustainable development. In all these initiatives, we maintain the concept of energy security and affordability informed by the economic status of our people,” said H.E. Mpango.
“Therefore, the energy we provide must be affordable; otherwise, it cannot truly empower our people. To ensure accessibility, governments have taken the lead in energy investments and have provided subsidies for distribution and connections.”
The Vice President noted that East Africa is endowed with vast natural resources, including an active petroleum system but pointed out that the regional energy demand keeps growing driven by many initiatives that are being taken to develop national economies through industrialisation and rural electrification.
“To overcome this growing energy demand and benefit our people, there is a need to effectively utilise our resources to provide our people with the energy needed for development and economic activities. Additionally, they will serve as a major source of revenue for our governments, which can then be reinvested in infrastructures and social services, and support the broader development agenda,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the EAC Secretary General, Hon. Veronica Nduva, said that the East African region is now recognised globally as a key investment destination for oil and gas.
“The discovery of petroleum resources in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, alongside South Sudan’s continued production and export of crude oil, demonstrates the tremendous progress that has been made. Furthermore, new exploration activities in Burundi and Rwanda suggest that even greater potential lies ahead,” said the Secretary General.
Hon. Nduva said that while global oil prices had fluctuated in recent years, East African economies have remained resilient, weathering the storm.
“This continued economic growth, despite global challenges, demonstrates the region's ability to offer long-term prospects and returns on investments. Investors can be assured that East Africa is a stable and attractive region for investment, even in the face of global economic uncertainties,” she said.
The Secretary General said that the nexus between petroleum resources, oil and gas sector and AI will transform how energy companies explore, extract, refine and distribute petroleum.
“There is need to invest heavily in digital infrastructure to drive efficiency, reduce costs and improve sustainability. The point is in skilling, research and innovation, and knowledge building and knowledge transfer. Some of the areas to consider are automation, optimisation, predictive maintenance, smart refineries, logistics spill detection and prevention, price forecasting and risk management, among other areas,” she added.
The SG disclosed that since the inception of the EAPCE at the turn of the millennium, the region has witnessed remarkable achievements shared at every conference.
“As we gather here for the 11th EAPCE, we can expect more updates on oil and gas development, including new investments and infrastructure developments within the region. However, this progress must be supported by harmonised, stable and clear regulatory, legal, and fiscal frameworks,” said Hon. Nduva.
In her remarks, Uganda’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, disclosed that Uganda benchmarked with Norway and was advised to set up a petroleum fund with the fund monies being ring-fenced for the development of infrastructure including electricity, roads and railways.
Hon. Nankabirwa further revealed that a complete value chain was critical in the development of the petroleum sector, adding that Uganda has not only enacted laws that protect the environment but laws that govern petroleum resources and the funds she gets from the natural resources.
The Minister said that the Uganda’s laws prohibit the export of unprocessed minerals. She said that besides unlocking the revenues needed to advance the energy transition, petroleum will also provide the much-needed gas as an alternative source of energy to the rudimentary use of biomass that has led to high deforestation rates and caused health challenges for women and children.
On his part, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, disclosed that Kenya has restructured her petroleum exploration blocks to align with global best practices and national legal frameworks.
“As a result, we have identified 10 highly productive blocks selected based on geo-scientific data that will be available for Kenya’s first licensing round for launching by September 2025. This presents a unique opportunity for investors to explore our hydro-carbon potential through a transparent and merit-based process,” said Hon. Wandayi.
“These blocks are strategically located in the Lamu and Anza basins in the country’s Coastal region, a region with proven discoveries and significant untapped potential,” added the CS.
The CS said that to support informed decision making, Kenya has also compiled geo-scientific data including seismic surveys, geological reports and well data, all available at the National Data Centre hosted by the National Oil Corporation of Kenya.
“We encourage investors to explore these resources for deeper insights into Kenya’s petroleum potential. Kenya is set to make significant investments in infrastructure development to support oil and gas exploration and development. Part of this includes the expansion of the Lamu port under the LAPSSET Corridor development programme, improved road networks to facilitate logistics and the Lamu – Lokichar Pipeline Project, ensuring seamless transportation of petroleum products,” said the CS.
Hon. Wandayi said that the infrastructure development projects were meant to enhance Kenya’s competitiveness as a regional energy hub.
The CS said that Kenya is home to a highly skilled workforce in the petroleum sector, adding that the country’s universities and technical training institutions offer specialised training in petroleum engineering, geology and geophysics, among other specialised fields.
“The Government of Kenya remains committed to capacity building initiatives fostering local expertise and innovation support in industry growth,” affirmed the CS.
In his speech, Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, H.E. Dahir Shire Mohamed, said that the country was now open for investment in the petroleum sector despite the many years of instability that had afflicted her in the past.
H.E. Mohamed urged investors to explore Somalia’s vast opportunities in oil and gas exploration, adding that the country was safe for investment.
The Minister said that Somalia enacted a petroleum law in February 2020 that established the Somalia Petroleum Authority, a new regulatory body for petroleum operations in the country.
Also present at the event were: Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, H.E. Dotto Mashaka Biteko; the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth; Permanent Secretaries; Ambassadors and other stakeholders in the petroleum sector.
Notes for Editors:
The East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE) is a biennial event held since 2003. EAPCE’25 provides a unique forum for dialogue for all players in the petroleum industry regionally and internationally. Technical papers, paper posters and e-posters, and exhibitions aligned to the Conference theme are lined up to produce stimulating interactions among Conference delegates. Field excursions to selected sites of geological, ongoing project works and touristic importance in the region are being planned to give the delegates a rich experience.
The Conference theme is Unlocking Investment in Future Energy: The Role of Petroleum Resources in the Energy Mix for Sustainable Development in East Africa. EAPCE’25 is in line with the broad goal of EAC to achieve economic, social and political integration so as to create wealth in the region and enhance competitiveness through increased production, trade and investment.
The objective of the energy sector development for EAC Vision 2050 is to ensure sustainable, adequate, affordable, competitive, secure and reliable supply of energy to meet regional needs. By 2050, the region targets to transform the energy landscape to be characterized by, among others, access, financial and technical capacity, efficient distribution of petroleum products with sufficient strategic reserves in compliance with environmental requirements.
As the world struggles with an energy crisis, clean energy and diversification being one of the key strategies to reduce supply chain difficulties, there is need for developing targeted policy approaches to promote energy mix and integration. Nuclear power, Solar, Wind and other renewable energy sources have the potential to play a significant role in helping countries securely transition to cleaner energy systems. Important to note is that over 90% of electricity produced in the region is from clean sources.
The EAC Partner States are therefore showcasing the potential for petroleum that exists in the region and report on ongoing activities in exploration, development and production. Further, the Partner States are sharing their respective policy, legal and regulatory frameworks as well as other initiatives aimed at continually improving the enabling and conducive environment for the industry.
EAPCE’25 offers participants an opportunity to promote their products, activities, technological advancements and hold business-to-business meetings in addition to sampling East Africa's cultural and touristic diversity.
Visit Conference Website at: www.eapce25.eac.int
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight (8) Partner States, comprising the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Federal Republic of Somalia was admitted into the EAC bloc by the Summit of EAC Heads of State on 24th November, 2023 and became a full member on 4th March, 2024.
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