A new report shows Tanzania and Uganda’s oil and pipeline projects will top this year’s infrastructure transactions in the region, with the two countries seeking more than seven billion dollars funding for the projects. Debtwire’s Africa project finance trend update for this year says the oil and infrastructure sectors are the most likely to attract interest from investors and financiers this year. Tanzania’s three and a half billion dollar joint east Africa crude oil pipeline project is expected to top the infrastructure transactions. Energy Minister, Irene Muloni, hinted last week that production is likely to start in 2022, a slight delay from the revised date of 2021. Uganda discovered crude reserves more than ten years ago, but production has been repeatedly delayed by disagreements with field operators over taxes and development strategy.

Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Muhidini Ally-Mboweto, has sought the assistance of the President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, in the development of his country’s oil and gas industry, Nigeria’s Punch Newspaper reported. Ally-Mboweto led a delegation from Tanzania High Commission and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation on a study tour of the Dangote refinery and fertiliser plants to seek collaboration between Dangote Group and the Tanzanian government in making the country self-sufficient in petroleum products, according to a statement from Dangote. Ally-Mboweto was quoted as saying, “Tanzania possesses vast natural resources and is endowed with unique comparative advantages, thus offering exceptionally attractive opportunities to investors.” According to him, Tanzania has gas, gold, diamonds, and gemstones including tanzanite and base metals. He said the country had bilateral trade agreements with eight countries including the Indian Ocean, describing them as potential markets for investors. Ally-Mboweto said, “Tanzania has a politically stable economy;…