Tanzania and Uganda move to make Tanga a new energy hub

TANGA: THE Joint Technical Committee between Tanzania and Uganda has met in Tanga, at Chongoleani, to hand over to the consultant from Worley Consulting Group Limited the site where infrastructure for receiving, storing and transporting refined petroleum products is expected to be constructed.

The move is part of the implementation of the cooperation agreement between Tanzania and Uganda to develop strategic projects in the energy sector.

The handover will enable the Consultant to begin preliminary feasibility studies, including soil testing, environmental assessments and preliminary design of the infrastructure.

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The infrastructure is expected to add value to the crude oil value chain that will pass through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), while helping to reduce reliance on imports of refined petroleum products, strengthen security of petroleum product supplies and create more business opportunities across the East African region.

Speaking about the project, Grace Mwakasege, Assistant Commissioner for the Downstream and Midstream Petroleum Division at the Ministry of Energy, said the project is strategic and is expected to help make Tanga an important hub for oil and gas activities in the East African region.

For his part, Uganda’s Assistant Commissioner from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Engineer Geofrey Ogwang, said the cooperation would create employment opportunities, facilitate technology transfer and boost economic activities for the people of Chongoleani and Tanga at large.