President Samia Suluhu Hassan has instructed the Ministry of Energy to change policies so that fuel traders in the Northern Zone collect fuel from Tanga instead of getting it from Dar es Salaam.

She gave this order while in Tanga after laying the foundation stone for an LPG terminal built by GBP Tanzania Limited. She pointed out that although GBP is doing well, distributors in the Northern Zone are still getting fuel from Dar es Salaam, which should not be the case.

President Samia emphasized that the fuel storage facility in Tanga has enough capacity to serve the Northern Zone and nearby countries, making it unnecessary to source fuel from Dar es Salaam. She noted that the decision to use Tanga for fuel supply had been made earlier but was not yet implemented by the Ministry of Energy.

She then instructed Deputy Minister for Energy, Judith Kapinga, to ensure the directive is carried out without any more delays. The President also mentioned that with ongoing investments in infrastructure like roads and airports, it is crucial to source fuel from Tanga.

Additionally, she said that the government is constructing the Tanga-Singida highway to shorten transportation distances for businesses, including fuel traders in the Northern Zone. This will also help ease congestion in Dar es Salaam.

During the event, GBP Tanzania Limited's Managing Director, Badar Soud, announced plans to open gas refilling stations in different regions. President Samia praised this initiative and assured investors that the government is committed to stable policies that encourage long-term investments and strengthen Tanzania’s position in both local and international markets.

She stated that she reviewed the LPG project and recognized GBP’s efforts in setting up gas refilling stations across the country. She assured the company of full government support in this project.

According to Mr. Badar, the total cost of the project is 50 million US dollars (127.5 billion Tanzanian shillings) and will create around 1,000 jobs. The terminal in Tanga has a storage capacity of 30,000 litres of LPG, supporting the government’s plan to encourage the use of clean energy. The goal is for 80% of Tanzanians to adopt clean cooking energy by 2034.

He also shared GBP’s achievements in Tanzania over the last 25 years, including setting up large-scale fuel storage depots. Currently, the Tanga depot can hold 202,188,135 litres, while the Dar es Salaam depot has a capacity of 76,386,105 litres.

Deputy Minister Kapinga highlighted that Tanga is a key hub for receiving and distributing fuel in the Northern Zone and neighbouring countries. She praised GBP’s role in the energy sector, especially in oil and gas storage and distribution.

President Samia completed her seven-day working tour of Tanga, where she inspected and launched different projects worth about 3.1 trillion Tanzanian shillings, which have been allocated to the region during her leadership over the past four years.