Dar es Salaam. The Minister for Energy, Deogratius John Ndejembi, has directed the Petroleum Bulk Procurement Agency (PBPA) to ensure that all major fuel depots receive petroleum products on time to strengthen national availability.
He issued the directive on March 26, 2026 here in the city during a meeting with leaders from PBPA, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura), and the Tanzania International Petroleum Reserves Limited (TIPER).
The meeting reviewed the status of fuel reception and handling operations for shipments entering the country.
Speaking during the session, Mr Ndejembi instructed PBPA to establish a robust sequencing system for fuel discharge.
He said the improved scheduling framework should ensure that all major depots involved in distribution receive fuel equitably and without delays.
He explained that the measure would help reduce supply challenges experienced in different parts of the country.
He added that timely distribution across storage facilities is critical for maintaining steady supply to retail outlets and end users.
The minister further said the government had agreed to accelerate the discharge of fuel vessels arriving in the country, particularly those intended for domestic consumption.
He noted that faster turnaround times at ports would support reliable and safe fuel availability nationwide.
Mr Ndejembi said the government had also held consultations with TIPER to strengthen coordination mechanisms for fuel offloading.
He directed that a structured and transparent scheduling arrangement be implemented to ensure all distributors receive services fairly.
He urged citizens not to panic over fuel availability, emphasising that the country holds adequate reserves to meet current demand. He said the government continues to monitor supply levels closely to prevent disruptions.
In addition, Mr Ndejembi directed EWURA to ensure that all fuel released from storage depots reaches intended destinations and is used appropriately.
He also urged fuel station operators to sell petroleum products based on actual market demand to prevent artificial shortages.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary for Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Ministry of Energy, James Mataragio, PBPA Chief Executive Officer Erasto Simon, Ewura director general James Andilile, and TIPER managing director Mohamed Mohamed, alongside technical experts from the petroleum sector.
