TANZANIA

Chevron Explores Investment Opportunities in Tanzania’s Oil and Natural Gas Sector

Chevron Corporation has expressed strong interest in evaluating and investing in Tanzania through oil and natural gas exploration, signalling growing confidence in the country’s improving investment climate and energy sector reforms.

This announcement came on May 12, 2026, in London during a meeting between Chevron Corporation and the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) on the sidelines of the Africa Energies Summit 2026.

The Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) is the government agency responsible for regulating and monitoring upstream petroleum operations in mainland Tanzania. Established under the Petroleum Act of 2015, PURA oversees exploration, development, and production of oil and gas resources, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and sustainable management of the sector.

During the session that held in London, Chevron Corporation’s Vice President for exploration, Mr. Kelvin McLachlan, indicated that, the Company is continuing to explore new strategic investment opportunities in Africa, with Tanzania identified as a key destination due to its political stability, investor-friendly environment, and substantial natural gas resources.

He noted that Chevron Corporation has extensive experience in oil and natural gas exploration and production across several African countries, including Nigeria, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, and is now seeking to expand its investments in the East African region.

Tanzania’s regulator has highlighted opportunities in both onshore and offshore exploration blocks and noted that, preparations are ongoing for a new licensing round. The Country is also expanding geological and geophysical surveys to improve petroleum data and support future discoveries.

This interest follows earlier discussions in 2025, when PURA invited Chevron to participate in Tanzania’s upstream petroleum sector, emphasizing that only about 30% of the Country’s sedimentary basins have been explored and pointing to upcoming offshore and Lake Tanganyika block offerings.

• Key opportunities for Chevron

Following this, investment opportunity, the key opportunities being promoted to Chevron include:

• Offshore exploration blocks in the Indian Ocean.
• Onshore oil and gas exploration acreage.
• Development linked to Tanzania’s large natural gas reserves.
• Potential participation in future LNG-related projects and infrastructure.

At present, Chevron has expressed strong interest and is assessing opportunities, but no final investment decision or exploration license award in Tanzania has been publicly announced.

• The Role of OL & PARTNERS in Oil and Gas Exploration Activities

At OL & PARTNERS, our Oil and Gas Experts understand the dynamics of exploration activities and the regulatory compliance of the ecosystem. We serve as essential legal advisors throughout exploration activities. Our role is to secure exploration rights, ensure regulatory compliance, negotiate contracts, manage environmental and community issues, mitigate legal risks, and protect the commercial interests of oil and gas companies. By so doing, we help facilitate efficient, lawful, and sustainable exploration operations:

• Securing Exploration Rights
  • Negotiate and draft exploration licenses, concessions, and leases;
  • Conduct due diligence on land ownership and mineral rights;
  • Ensure that exploration rights are properly acquired and registered.;
  • Advise clients on the legal framework governing petroleum exploration.

• Regulatory Compliance
  • Interpret and advise on petroleum laws, regulations, and government policies;
  • Assist companies in obtaining permits, licenses, and approvals from regulatory authorities;
  • Ensure compliance with local content requirements, health and safety regulations, and operational standards;
  • Negotiating Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and other petroleum agreements;
  • Advising on royalties and taxes obligations;
  • Ensuring compliance with government reporting requirements;
  • Representing clients during regulatory investigations and audits.

• Environmental and Social Responsibility
  • Advise on environmental laws and regulations;
  • Assist in obtaining environmental permits and approvals;
  • Review Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs);
  • Help companies comply with community engagement and compensation requirements;
  • Manage legal risks associated with environmental damage claims.

• Land Access and Community Relations
  • Negotiate land access agreements;
  • Handle compensation and resettlement matter where necessary;
  • Resolve disputes involving landowners, indigenous groups, or local communities;
  • Ensure compliance with land tenure laws;
  • Manage disputes with governments, contractors, partners, or local communities.