How East Africa can harness energy potential sustainably

The ongoing 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibitions (EAPCE’25) in Dar es Salaam has brought together over 1,000 key players from the oil and gas sector to deliberate on the theme Unlocking Investment in Future Energy: The Role of Petroleum Resources in the Energy Mix for Sustainable Development in East Africa.

Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr Philip Mpango, in his opening remarks, emphasised the need for responsible investments in energy resources while balancing development and sustainability.

His message, alongside insights from regional leaders and experts, highlighted the importance of collaboration and sustainable exploration of petroleum resources to ensure the long-term prosperity of the EAC.

Dr Mpango described the region as being at a crossroads, facing both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges.

He underlined that the future of East Africa’s energy sector hinges on sustainable development, stating, “Our path forward must clearly balance growth and sustainability, balance innovation with responsibility, and the needs of today with the aspirations of tomorrow.”

This balance, he argued, was essential to harness the region’s energy resources without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their needs.

Tanzania is rich in energy resources, including natural gas, and other East African nations such as Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan also have significant oil and gas reserves.

However, Dr Mpango warned that the region’s energy demands continue to grow rapidly as economies industrialize. “To overcome growing energy demand to benefit our people, there is a need to effectively utilise all our energy resources, including petroleum,” he noted.

“Petroleum resources continue to play a crucial role in today’s energy mix, and by using these resources responsibly, I am convinced that we can drive development while leveraging the revenue generated to transition toward a greener future,” Dr Mpango added.

He emphasised that technological advancements, including cleaner extraction methods and carbon capture technologies, offer developing countries a window of opportunity to maximise their petroleum resources sustainably.

The Vice President’s message also addressed the region’s environmental obligations. He acknowledged the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy sources but highlighted the importance of bridging the gap with cleaner alternatives.

“We must solve today’s problems while preparing solutions for tomorrow’s problems,” he said.

This emphasis on sustainability was echoed by other regional leaders, such as the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Ms Veronica Nduva.

She pointed to the significant progress the region has made in oil and gas exploration, citing the discovery of over 6.5 billion barrels of oil in Uganda, 750 million barrels in Kenya, and more than 50 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in Tanzania.

However, she stressed that this growth must be accompanied by careful management of resources. “This progress must be supported by harmonized and clear regulatory, legal, and physical frameworks,” she said, urging the region to continue developing sustainable resource management strategies.

Ms Nduva also highlighted the importance of technology in driving sustainable exploration.

“It is important for the region to center artificial intelligence in all initiatives going forward to transform how energy companies will explore, extract, refine, and distribute petroleum,” she added.

This call for technological innovation aligned with Dr Mpango’s vision of leveraging new tools to ensure environmentally responsible energy production.

The discussions were further enriched by the participation of Uganda’s Minister of Energy, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, who stressed the need for stronger partnerships within the EAC to unlock the region’s full energy potential.

“We must pull our resources together to invest in infrastructure that serves the entire region,” she urged.

Kenya’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Opiyo Wandai, also echoed the call for collaboration, emphasizing that the EAC members must work together to harness the region’s energy potential.

“This forum is crucial for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and investment in the region’s petroleum sector,” he said.

Experts attending the conference were equally vocal about the need for careful planning and investment.

According to an energy analyst based in Nairobi, Dr John Ndungu, “The region’s energy sector is at a pivotal point. While there is undeniable potential in petroleum and natural gas, we must ensure that this potential is harnessed in a way that does not compromise the future.”

A climate change expert, Dr Amina Hassan, noted that while the region’s energy demands were growing, it is crucial to ensure that investments align with sustainable development goals.

“We are in a climate crisis, and the last thing we need is to lock ourselves into an unsustainable fossil fuel future. The region’s oil and gas can serve as a bridge to cleaner energy solutions, but we must be cautious about the environmental impacts of over-exploitation,” she said.

In East Africa’s pursuit of energy security and economic development, this balance between growth and sustainability will be key to securing a prosperous future for all.