Dr. Mwinyi Urges Energy Fund for Oil and Gas Research

Mwinyi Urges East Africa to Establish Energy Fund to Support Oil and Gas Innovations

Dar es Salaam, March 7, 2025 – The President of Zanzibar, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, has called for the creation of a dedicated energy fund for East African nations. This fund, according to Dr. Mwinyi, would support research, development, and innovation within the oil and gas sectors.

Dr. Mwinyi stressed that the establishment of such a fund would help address the financial challenges faced by countries in the region when developing energy projects, particularly in light of increasing global pressures from environmental activists.

He noted that global movements have pushed donors to refrain from financing projects linked to non-renewable energy sources, which has hindered the development of crucial energy initiatives.

The call echoes previous challenges seen in the Uganda-Tanzania Oil Pipeline project, which encountered significant opposition from environmental activists in France.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 11th Petroleum Conference held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, Dr. Mwinyi emphasized that the time to act is now, highlighting the need for East African Community (EAC) member states to adopt a cohesive strategy that supports their 2014 energy development goals.

“The energy fund will be essential for enabling research, training, and technological advancements in the oil and gas sector,” Dr. Mwinyi said. He further highlighted that financial constraints have been a major barrier to the sector’s growth in East Africa, reinforcing the need for such a fund to overcome these challenges.

Dr. Mwinyi reflected on the global opposition to non-sustainable energy projects, questioning how East African nations could effectively address these challenges while ensuring the continued development of their energy resources and achieving their energy transformation plans.

The rapid advancement of technology in the oil and gas sector, including innovations that reduce carbon emissions, was also noted by Dr. Mwinyi. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to identify new oil and gas reserves in the region and reiterated that oil and gas are still vital energy sources as the region navigates its transition to cleaner energy.

Dr. Mwinyi also stressed the importance of ensuring that local populations benefit from the energy projects being implemented in their countries.

On his part, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Doto Biteko, described the conference as a valuable platform for discussing investment opportunities in the region's oil and gas sectors.

Biteko noted that over 1,400 delegates from various East African nations and beyond attended the conference, underscoring the importance of sharing investment opportunities and benefits available to all participants.

Dr. Felchesmi Mramba, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, also highlighted the significance of the discussions held during the three-day conference, which focused on transitioning to renewable energy while exploring investment opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

The conference provided a rare opportunity to hear from experts who presented the current state of the sector, future prospects, and plans for continued investment in the region’s oil and gas industry.

Renatus Nyanda, Head of the Risk Management Department at Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), underscored the importance of economic investments in the sector, while stressing the need for environmental risk management in the implementation of energy projects.

Speaking about the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in Tanzania’s oil and gas exploration, Faustin Kayombo, Senior Geologist at TPDC, shared insights from studies conducted in Kilombero, Mtwara, and Ruvu, commending the country’s EIA process but pointing out the political challenges that sometimes affect the mitigation efforts.

Nachael Mwanga, Environmental Officer at GASCO, introduced innovative micro and nanobubble technology that can treat industrial wastewater, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical-based methods.

In another presentation, Winston Mugumya, Senior Petroleum Engineer from Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, discussed the importance of responsible oil extraction in environmentally sensitive areas, especially in resource-rich regions like the East African Rift Valley.