Indonesia’s State energy company PT Pertamina, through its subholding Pertamina International EP (PIEP), has finalized an agreement with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to explore potential cooperation in oil and gas sector.
The Memorandum of Understanding between PIEP and TPDC was signed on August 22, 2024 by Pertamina president director Nicke Widyawati and TPDC managing director James Mataragio.
Pertamina, through PIEP, and TPDC have agreed to implement the scope of capability building batch 1 as well as upstream block evaluation activities earlier agreed by Pertamina and TPDC. However, there is still potential collaboration for upstream and downstream as well as further activities for capability building batch 2.
Following up the capacity building batch 2, Pertamina through Business Development Function and TPDC have conducted further discussion on the amandement of the MOU on the article of extension of MOU period. The extension of Pertamina-TPDC MoU aims to add duration of the MOU for next one year.
The TPDC cooperation agreement with Pertamina is outlined in the Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed on August 30, 2024 by Nicke and continued with the exchange of documents at the Indonesia-Africa Forum meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
Present at the event were TPDC Board Chairman, Ambassador Ombeni Sefue; President Director of PT Pertamina Nicke Widyawati; President Director of PT Pertamina International EP (PIEP) Jaffee Arizon Suardin; Zanzibar Minister of Labor, Economic Affairs & Investment, Shariff Ali Shariff; Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs & East Africa Cooperation, Cosato David Chumi; and Tanzanian Ambassador to Indonesia, Macocha Tembele were present.
The MoU between TPDC and Pertamina covers knowledge exchange programs, capacity building, and collaborative research efforts that can further enhance both parties’ capabilities in adopting and implementing sustainable energy practices.
In addition, both parties are also exploring investment partnerships. “This cooperation in the energy sector is expected to strengthen the resilience of Indonesia and Africa in creating a more interconnected and resilient energy network,” Pertamina Upstream Subholding Corporate Secretary, Arya Dwi Paramita, said.
Previously, Pertamina and TPDC had completed the assessment of 2 oil and gas blocks in Tanzania, namely West Songo-Songo and North Mnazi Bay. Both companies continue to explore business potential in the non-upstream sector in Tanzania that can support Pertamina’s overall performance and across subholdings.
Pertamina VP for Corporate Communication, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, said that Pertamina Group’s footprint in various countries in Africa has been built since 2013. Seeing the great potential of Africa, Pertamina continuously builds strategic cooperation with Africa.
“This cooperation with Tanzania is proof of Pertamina’s enthusiasm to develop with a number of countries in Africa. There is still a lot of energy potential that can be developed and of course it will be able to provide benefits to both parties,” Fadjar said.
