Why Mataragio’s return to Energy ministry was a long time coming

His appointment as head of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) by then-President Jakaya Kikwete in 2014 sent a message to other business leaders that the government was seriously working out a plan that sought to tap into the best private sector brains to tweak the performance of public sector entities.

With exploration for natural gas and negotiations for a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant being the most popular topics in Tanzania during the Kikwete era, Tanzania needed a person of Dr Mataragio’s calibre to make meaningful progress.

Almost all of Tanzania’s 57.25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves were discovered during the reign of Mr Kikwete’s presidency, and Dr Mataragio was to be part of the government’s negotiation team on how the country would reap the benefits of the God-given resource.

Besides, having worked in a senior position with a company known as Bell Geospace in Houston, USA, Dr Mataragio was undoubtedly conversant with the language of multinationals, including those in the oil and gas sector.

However, that was short-lived because, only about two years after Mr Kikwete departed from the State House, Dr Mataragio was suspended by the TPDC board from his post and was later charged with abuse of public office.

Along with four other senior officials, he was being accused of violating procurement laws and infringing public service regulations in the conduct of their work, based on a conflict of interest. Nobody knows what happened to the case, but what is in the public domain is that the reinstatement was itself on the order of former President Magufuli, who directed that he be reinstated immediately. As such, he was reinstated in 2019 only to be dismissed in April 2021 and reinstated once more just hours later.

It was not until February 2023 that President Hassan dismissed him again and announced that he would be assigned other duties.

This only came to fruition on Tuesday this week when he was named the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, replacing Mr Athumani Mbuttuka, whose appointment has been rescinded.

His removal from office came just shortly before the government announced that it had reached a deal with Equinor, Shell and Exxon Mobil for the development of a $40 billion Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant.

The two parties announced in May 2023 that they had reached an agreement on the main elements of a Host Government Agreement (HGA) to provide a regulatory framework and a production-sharing agreement.

Insiders say it was just a matter of time before Dr Mataragio was reinstated into a powerful position in the Energy ministry, thanks to his role in the natural gas sector.

“He is a man of integrity and patriotism. He is the kind of person who is capable of sacrificing his interests when it comes to defending what is in the interest of Tanzania. For me, it was just a matter of time before he was given another influential position in the energy sector,” said a source who has worked with Dr Mataragio for a long time.

Preferring not to be named, the source described Dr Mataragio as a person who commands massive experience in the natural gas sector at the local and international level, adding that he is a fearless and always straightforward person.

Being the initiator of the LNG negotiation, he said Dr Mataragio is one of the very few Tanzanians who knows well the potential benefits for both the government and the companies involved in the deal and why.

“In global circles, Dr Mataragio is widely respected as one of the top geologists, but in normal circumstances, after all the numerous challenges he went through, he has remained loyal to his country. He could have pursued opportunities elsewhere, but he remained in Tanzania. I think the government should retain him and benefit from his experience,” said the source.

 Wentworth Gas Ltd, government relations manager, Mr Frank Morandi, stated, “In general, Dr Mataragio, who holds extensive experience both locally and internationally in the gas sector; his return could potentially benefit the country.”

Mr Morandi emphasised Dr Mataragio’s previous role as a key member of the LNG negotiation team, suggesting that his return could accelerate ongoing processes, adding that his return could speed up the process as his expertise is important for the nation.

“While I cannot definitively attribute his return to LNG matters, it’s evident that his proficiency in the gas sector is invaluable to both the ministry and the nation,” he added.

University of Dodoma (Udom) senior lecturer Dr Ceven Shemsanga said, “The permanent secretary is the executive of the ministry, so a person with the ability to make decisions is needed for the benefit of the country. I know Dr Mataragio, and what we expect from him is a positive change.”

He said that the decisions that are being taken are those that have been done through a feasibility analysis and that will meet the needs of the people. “I know him; I have worked with him; what is needed is knowledge and information.”