The African Energy Chamber has expressed concerns over the alleged arrest and detention of three energy executives in Tanzania.
The arrest was made last week.
Total Tanzania’s Managing Director, Jean-Francois Schoepp, Puma Supply Manager, Adam Eliewinga and Oryx’s representative, August Dominick, were arrested for questioning and taken into custody while attending a consultative meeting between oil marketers and the Energy and Water Regulatory Authority in Dar es Salaam.
The AEC, in a recent statement, called for the respect of the rule of law, and asking that they be afforded all due process as required by Tanzanian law.
“We hope that any ongoing disagreement between oil marketers and the Tanzanian government will be quickly resolved so everyone can get back to business and to providing services to Tanzanian consumers. The chamber has repeatedly applauded Tanzania for its strike in discovering significant gas resources. With the right infrastructure, Tanzania’s natural resources could transform the country into an oasis of energy growth.
“We do not want to see such isolated incidents affect the attractiveness of the country for foreign investors and ultimately affect the its energy independence and slow down jobs creation,” said Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the AEC.
The statement added that the AEC would remain open to assisting all parties in reaching an amicable solution to ongoing disagreements and calls on all stakeholders to promote a stronger dialogue on ongoing matters of fuel supply across Tanzania.
