Tanzania

Equinor has been in Tanzania since 2007 when the company signed a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for Block 2 with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC).

Equinor Tanzania is the Operator with 65% participating interest while ExxonMobil is partner with a 35% working interest. TPDC has the right to participate with a 10% interest.

Equinor started exploration drilling activities in Block 2 Offshore Tanzania in 2011. A total of 15 exploration wells have been drilled, resulting in nine discoveries with estimated volumes of more than 20 Tcf of gas in place.

Equinor and partners ExxonMobil in Block 2 are working together with partners in Block 1 & 4 led by Shell on discussions with the Government on agreements for the LNG opportunity in Tanzania.

How to find us in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam
429 Mahando street
Block A
Msasani Peninsula
Dar Es Salaam
United Republic of Tanzania
Tel: +255 684 226203 / +255 764 958550

Our activities in Tanzania

Preparing for Tanzania gas future

Land for the Tanzania LNG project

TPDC is the licence holder for the offshore Block 2 and the land title holder for the selected LNG site.

Following an extensive site selection process in 2013, a site was identified in the Lindi region to host the onshore LNG plant once the final investment decision is made by the investors.

TPDC has been responsible for the acquisition of the LNG site and completed the compensation process for the affected communities at the LNG site consistent with Tanzanian law.

Throughout TPDC’s compensation and relocation process, Equinor and its partners maintained dialogue with the relevant authorities.

In line with UN guiding principles for business and human rights, Equinor has assessed impacts from this process and defined mitigating actions toward the impacted communities with some livelihood programs already implemented.

If an investment decision is ultimately made, this process will be reviewed in the context of international best practice principles.

Capacity Building

Equinor has an ambition wherever possible to utilise local resources during the different phases of the project. Our initial assessment of available resources has indicated very low numbers. Since then we have embarked in several initiatives for capacity-building to facilitate knowledge building, skills building and academic qualification. Here are examples of such initiatives.

Masters of Finance in Oil and Gas

In 2014, UDBS in partnership with UIS developed the Master programme in Finance and Accounting in Oil and Gas (MFA-OG) The objective of this programme was to enable the universities to educate personnel relevant for the petroleum industry in Tanzania in finance, accounting and economics, and provide foundation for future research activities. The Masters programme was officially launched in 2015. In addition to supporting the programme development, Equinor has offered scholarships to students. As of 2018, 13 students have graduated, and 113 have enrolled.

Photo: Paul Joynson-Hicks - AP - Equinor — Photo: Paul Joynson-Hicks, AP, for Equinor

Social investment projects

Equinor has been actively investing in social projects since 2012, focusing on capacity building, education, and community development initiatives particularly in Lindi, Tanzania. These efforts include scholarships, vocational training, livelihood support, and infrastructure improvements for local communities.

Capacity building and scholarships: Equinor has funded over 100 graduate scholarships and supported capacity building initiatives at the University of Dar Es Salaam and University of Dodoma since 2012.
Post Compensation Livelihood Programme: In collaboration with TPDC, the program aids Project Affected People with agricultural support, education, improved seeds, and poultry production training, benefiting 356 individuals in Lindi.
Joint social investment projects: Shell and Equinor have implemented projects such as vocational skills training through VETA, construction of classrooms at Likong’o Primary School, and distribution of over 17,000 textbooks to secondary schools in Lindi and Mtama districts.
Health initiatives: Since 2018, Equinor has partnered with CCBRT to provide fistula repair surgeries and vocational training to women in Lindi, benefiting more than 135 women and empowering 48 with skills and startup toolkits. In addition, between 2015 and 2020 Equinor, supported Hydrocele surgeries conducted in Mtwara and Lindi through Neglected Tropical Disease control program (NTD).

Working with local communities

Equinor Tanzania has established this programmatic approach to engaging with local communities in our areas of operations based on the principles of shared value. This programme provides a platform where we can engage with the regional government and local stakeholders, while meeting some needs of the communities in which we work. This is in line with SDG’S and addresses particularly Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) No. 1: No poverty and 3: Good health and well-being.