Tanzania’s Minister for Energy, Deogratius Ndejembi, has instructed the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) to ensure that no trader hoards fuel under the pretext of waiting for prices to rise amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has caused supply challenges in some countries.
Speaking in Dodoma during a meeting with institutions under the Ministry overseeing the petroleum sector, Ndejembi stated that the country has a strong fuel security position. He emphasized that the government is well prepared to ensure citizens across all regions continue to receive services without disruption.
He therefore directed EWURA to ensure that no fuel is hidden in storage depots.
To ensure that all imported fuel reaches the country in accordance with contractual agreements, Ndejembi also directed the formation of a special task force to monitor fuel imports.
The team will include experts from the Petroleum Bulk Procurement Agency (PBPA), EWURA, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), as well as representatives from security agencies.
“This team will be responsible for closely monitoring every stage to ensure that all fuel shipments destined for the country arrive on time without any obstacles or challenges. The global fuel market situation is currently unstable—prices have doubled in some countries—and some traders may be tempted to divert supplies elsewhere. In this regard, I do not expect to see any violation of the contracts we have entered into with fuel importers,” Ndejembi emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy responsible for Petroleum and Natural Gas, James Mataragio, assured Tanzanians that the country has sufficient fuel reserves to last until July 2026.
He noted that the government had taken early measures, in collaboration with its institutions, to ensure a reliable and affordable fuel supply.
He added that the Ministry will continue supervising its agencies to ensure that incoming fuel shipments arrive on time and that traders do not exploit the situation to raise prices.
Earlier, the Executive Director of PBPA, Erasto Simon, said the country’s fuel supply situation remains stable.
He explained that, combining fuel available locally and in transit, Tanzania has 474 million litres of petrol sufficient for 78 days, 392 million litres of diesel sufficient for 50 days, and 55 million litres of jet fuel sufficient for 91 days.
Similarly, the Managing Director of TPDC, Mussa Makame, affirmed that there is adequate fuel both within the country and in transit, noting that the government had already signed supply contracts early.
Meanwhile, EWURA Director General, James Andilile, said the market is currently stable, with no inflationary pressure. He assured that EWURA will prevent traders from hoarding fuel in anticipation of global price increases.
He added that EWURA continues to collaborate with stakeholders, including importers and distributors, to promptly address any emerging challenges and ensure reliable service delivery to citizens.
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