Three national petroleum regulators, Tanzania’s Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA), Zanzibar’s Petroleum Regulatory Authority (ZPRA), and Uganda’s Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate cooperation in oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production.

The strategic deal, signed in Entebbe, Uganda, brings together key players in the region’s energy sector at a critical moment when Tanzania and Uganda are jointly implementing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), one of Africa’s largest energy infrastructure projects.

Present at the signing were PURA Board Chairman Mr Halfan Halfan, PAU Board Chairperson Ms Lynda Biribonwa, PURA Director General Eng. Charles Sangweni, PAU Executive Director Eng. Ernest Rubondo, and ZPRA Managing Director Eng. Muhammed Said.

The agreement outlines cooperation across vital operational and regulatory areas such as petroleum resource management, data sharing, cost auditing, health and safety (HSE), and the drafting of sectoral policies and guidelines. Crucially, the MoU also highlights the importance of community participation in energy projects, aligning oil and gas operations with local development goals.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone toward strengthening the institutional and technical capacities of our regulators,” said Mr Halfan Halfan. 

Ms Lynda Biribonwa echoed the sentiment, stating that collaborative regulatory efforts will foster long-term energy security and environmental responsibility. 

This trilateral deal complements the ongoing development of the 1,443-kilometre EACOP, which will carry crude oil from Uganda’s Lake Albert basin to Tanzania’s Tanga Port. With 80 percent of the pipeline traversing Tanzania, the project represents a critical corridor for trade, investment, and technological advancement.

Built at a cost of approximately $4 billion, EACOP is expected to unlock enormous value for both countries, including job creation, improved infrastructure, and enhanced logistics. Once operational, it will allow Uganda to access international oil markets while offering Tanzania expanded economic opportunities as the host of key terminal infrastructure.

The new MoU underscores a broader regional vision, one that places East Africa on the map as a unified, resource-rich bloc poised for industrial transformation powered by energy cooperation, innovation, and sustainability.