DIPLOMACY

At least 600 delegates are expected to physically attend the first Tanzania-Uganda Oil and Gas Symposium in Dar es Salaam that gets under way Saturday, and over 2,000 are scheduled to follow the event online.

This is according to Uganda's high commissioner to Tanzania, Richard Kabonero. 

He was Friday evening speaking at a dinner at Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam  that was attended by Ugandan delegates and officials from Tanzania. 

Ugandan envoy to Tanzania Richard Kabonero

Kabonero said the symposium was single-minded in its purpose and focused mainly on how they could enhance private sector participation in the oil and gas sectors of the two countries. 

He said in the last ten years, Uganda and Tanzania have made advancements in the gas and oil industry, and told guests that Tanzania has already developed some of her natural gas and Uganda is in the development phase of her oil reserves. 

At the centre of it all is the East Africa crude oil pipeline that will traverse Uganda and Tanzania, and will not only attract direct foreign investment in this and other sectors, "but also harness the potential of local investment".

Ugandan ambassador to Burundi Matayo Kyaligonza also attended

Kabonero said this will give local ownership to this and other projects. 

The ambassador underlined that the two governments have played their role in creating an enabling environment and policies to guide oil and gas developments, including the recently concluded agreements. 

He applauded Uganda's energy minister Ruth Nankabirwa and her team for the efforts to ensure the project came to a reality. 

Ugandan energy minister Ruth Nankabirwa (right) attended the dinner

According to Kabonero, the symposium is presenting a unique opportunity for the private sector to understand the current oil and gas landscape.

It is also a platform for exploring the opportunity for businesses that are available and the key strategies for securing financing for the projects, the legal and regulatory frameworks for participating, the challenges involved and possibilities for joint venture between businesses in Uganda and Tanzania. 

Aziz Mulima, the Tanzanian high commissioner to Uganda, reminded delegates that the reason why the symposium was organised is because the two governments agreed to put the East Africa crude oil and gas pipeline to go through Tanzania from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga in Tanzania. 

He said that was at the governments levels, but that the project is majorly private sector-centred. He said they need to have investors coming in to join Total and Cinoco. 

Mulima said the private sectors in Uganda and Tanzania are the key stakeholders of the symposium. 

He said there will be a similar pipeline for gas from Tanzania to Uganda, and called upon the private sector to get prepared for both projects.

The Tanzanian envoy said the private sector needs to start establishing contacts and suggested for an online portal or directory where people can access information. 

The theme of the symposium is "Enhancing private sector participation  in the oil and gas sector". It is  taking place on November 27 and 28 at Julius Nyerere International  Convention in Dar es Salaam. 

Francis Mwebesa, the minister of trade, industry and co-operatives on Friday met with his Tanzanian counterpart, Prof. Kitila A. Mkumbo, the minister of industry and trade ahead of the symposium.

The two held discussions, which were attended by Uganda's envoy to Tanzania Kabonero. 

The meeting of the Ugandan and Tanzanian trade ministers

Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni is expected to fly to Tanzania for a three-state visit and will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Samia Suluhu Hassan on oil and gas, especially the $3.5b (about sh12.4 trillion) East Africa crude oil pipeline project.