The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation was established under the Public Corporations Act No.17 through the Government Notice No.140 of 30^th May 1969. The Corporation began active operations in 1973.

The objectives of the Corporation as laid down in the TPDC. (Establishment Order), inter alia:

• to explore and produce petroleum;
• to carry out standard activities of an oil company including, distribution and storage facilities;
• to hold exploration and production rights;
• to contract, hold equity or participate in oil concessions, franchises and licenses;
• to manage parastatals or other legal entities transferred to the corporation; and
• to develop an adequate industrial base for the oil industry.

TPDC is a wholly owned Government parastatal, with all the shares held by the Treasury Registrar.

TPDC is organized  into two directorates, namely:-

• Exploration, Production and Technical services
• Finance and Administration

Subsidiaries

TPDC holds shares in the following companies on behalf of the Government.

• BP Tanzania Limited.
• TAZAMA Pipeline Limited.
• Mafuta House Investment Company Limited. (under implementation).

TPDC also participates in the Songo Songo Gas-to-Electricity and Mnazi Bay gas development projects.

Following the Government's resolve not to involve itself in business activities, the shareholding in the refinery, the oil companies (BP, ORYX) and TAZAMA will have to be transferred.