FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to explore and potentially develop the Mnazi Bay North Block in southern Tanzania. The agreement, sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the TPDC headquarters in Dodoma, marks a significant push by FIRST E&P to expand its operations beyond Nigeria and deepen its footprint in Africa’s energy sector.
The MoU signifies the commencement of technical assessments of the block, with FIRST E&P fully funding this phase. The company’s management expressed strong confidence in the hydrocarbon potential of the Mnazi Bay North Block, positioning the venture as a step toward regional energy security and cross-border energy collaboration in Sub-Saharan Africa.
FIRST E&P, a major Nigerian upstream company, currently produces approximately 57,000 barrels of oil per day through a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Its Nigerian assets include Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 54, Petroleum Prospecting Licenses (PPL) 53, 275, 276, and 277.
Speaking during the MoU signing, FIRST E&P Managing Director, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, said the venture aligns with the company’s vision of expanding its technical expertise and operational capacity beyond Nigeria. He emphasized Tanzania’s potential as a regional energy hub, noting the country’s strategic geographic location for energy distribution across Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We believe Tanzania holds world-class hydrocarbon resources. Our success in Nigeria has equipped us with the capabilities to replicate similar achievements in other African markets,” Adeyemi-Bero stated. “This MoU is not just about project exploration; it is the foundation of a long-term partnership that benefits both the government and people of Tanzania.”
Tanzania’s Commissioner for Petroleum and Gas at the Ministry of Energy, Godluck Shirima, welcomed the partnership, underscoring the importance of the Petroleum Act of 2015, which enables TPDC to develop energy assets either independently or through partnerships. He described the Mnazi Bay initiative as a pioneering upstream collaboration with significant prospects for boosting Tanzania’s energy production capacity.
“We are pleased that this partnership with FIRST E&P is coming to fruition. It is the first of its kind in our upstream sector and represents a major step toward tapping Tanzania’s vast energy potential,” Shirima said.
TPDC’s Managing Director, Mussa Makame, highlighted the need for Africa to transition from biomass to cleaner energy sources like natural gas. He emphasized that partnerships such as this one could reduce reliance on harmful energy sources, improve health outcomes, and support environmental sustainability.
“The collaboration with FIRST E&P allows us to exploit our energy reserves in ways that directly benefit our people. It is crucial for Tanzania to develop its gas resources not only for domestic energy security but also for socio-economic development,” Makame said.
FIRST E&P’s venture into Tanzania comes at a time when African countries are increasingly advocating for intra-African collaborations to harness the continent’s natural resources for economic development. The partnership is expected to bolster energy infrastructure in Tanzania, enhance local capacity, and potentially enable cross-border energy trade within the region.
The agreement also positions Tanzania to further its goals under its national energy strategy, which seeks to reduce reliance on biomass and expand access to cleaner energy alternatives for its population. The successful development of the Mnazi Bay North Block could have ripple effects on energy access, industrial growth, and job creation within Tanzania and neighboring countries.
In addition to the technical and financial commitments, FIRST E&P expressed appreciation for the collaborative approach adopted by TPDC and the Tanzanian government throughout the negotiation process. The company assured its Tanzanian counterparts of a transparent and mutually beneficial engagement.
The MoU, according to a statement by FIRST E&P, is the first phase of what could eventually culminate in a full licensing agreement and the establishment of a producing asset that would significantly contribute to regional energy sufficiency.
