The Government through the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) is expecting to auction twenty-six (26) petroleum exploration blocks to attract more investment in that space that would result in more gas discoveries or oil discoveries.

This was revealed by the Director General of PURA, Eng. Charles Sangweni when speaking with journalists at the 11^th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE’25) held recently in Dar es Salaam.

Eng. Sangweni said that, of the 26 blocks, 23 are in the deep offshore of the Indian Ocean and three (3) are in Lake Tanganyika.

“The demarcated blocks are located in strategic areas since the deep offshore is where a significant amount of natural gas was discovered and the case of Lake Tanganyika, the Lake is located in the East African Rift System (EARS) where neighboring countries (Kenya and Uganda) discovered oil in basins located in similar geological setting” added Eng. Sangweni.

PURA used the EAPCE’25 as a platform to continue promoting the upcoming licensing round and investment in petroleum exploration blocks in the country for that is one of its responsibilities.