Dar es Salaam. The Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) has taken part in the inspection and testing of a gas drilling rig expected to be deployed for the drilling of three natural gas wells in the Mnazi Bay block in Mtwara Region.
The exercise, which was conducted in Tianjin Province, China, aimed to verify the rig’s structural integrity and operational efficiency before it is shipped to Tanzania ahead of the drilling activities scheduled for November 2025.
In addition to examining the rig, which has a capacity to drill to depths of up to 8,000 metres, PURA also participated as an observer in the assessment of key support systems on the rig, including the pipeline infrastructure to be used during the drilling operations.
PURA representative, Yoctan Magazi, said the inspection was a crucial step in ensuring the rig’s readiness for the task ahead, adding that the authority is committed to overseeing all phases of the upstream project in line with its regulatory mandate.
“As the regulator of upstream petroleum operations in the country, PURA is actively involved in supervising every phase of this project to ensure its implementation proceeds as planned,” he said.
The wells to be drilled, namely MS-2, MB-5 and Kasa-1x, are expected to significantly boost Tanzania’s daily natural gas production by more than 30 million standard cubic feet.
Meanwhile, the operator of the Tanga block, Octant Energy Tanga Limited, has held discussions with PURA to update the authority on preparations for the drilling of an oil or gas exploration well in the Tanga region.
During a meeting held on July 17, 2025, at PURA’s Dar es Salaam liaison office, Octant’s Regional Manager Jeremy Martin disclosed that following the successful reprocessing and interpretation of 3D seismic data, the company has now identified eight potential drilling locations.
“The completion of the data interpretation has enabled us to move into the preliminary planning phase, where we’ve shortlisted eight possible locations for the upcoming well,” Mr Martin said.
He further noted that the company is currently assessing the availability of local goods and services that could support the project once drilling begins.
“Understanding the capacity of local service providers will help Octant prepare effectively and develop a practical local content plan,” he added.
Acting PURA director general, Simon Nkenyeli, commended Octant’s proactive engagement with local stakeholders, describing it as a commendable step in line with national legislation.
“Engaging with local service providers before considering international options reflects the spirit and letter of the Petroleum Act of 2015,” he said.
PURA’s Head of Local Content and Stakeholder Engagement, Mr Charles Nyangi, echoed similar sentiments, praising Octant’s approach as exemplary.
“This is exactly what the law intends, to prioritise Tanzanian participation in oil and gas projects. Congratulations for taking this into consideration, and PURA stands ready to support you with the necessary information,” he said.
