The Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) and Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at facilitating the establishment of an accredited safety and survival training center.

The parties signed the MoU on 13th March 2024 in Dar es Salaam in the presence of PURA and DMI Board of Directors Chairmen.

The establishment of the center will enable Tanzanian oil and gas professionals aspiring to work in offshore petroleum operations to undertake certification training courses such as Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) and Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO).

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director General of PURA, Eng. Charles Sangweni said that there is currently no single center in Tanzania offering such courses, a situation that necessitates oil and gas professionals in the country to travel overseas to undertake the training.

“With the establishment of the center in the country, oil and gas professionals will not have to spend pots of money to travel abroad for certification. The number of professionals undertaking certification will also increase, therefore increasing Tanzanian participation in offshore petroleum operations” added Eng. Sangweni.

For her part, the Rector of the Dar es Salaam Maritime Insitute, Dr. Tumaini Gurumo expressed her delight for the pact entered with PURA for what will be born out of it will have a far-reaching impact on the oil and gas sector in the country.

“For quite a long time, DMI has been looking for a partner with whom to facilitate the establishment of an offshore safety and survival training center in the country after recognizing that scores of Tanzanians cannot afford to travel abroad for the courses. This will be a huge relief to Tanzanians” said Dr. Gurumo.