Petroleum exploration law in Tanzania: legal analysis of Provisions on production sharing agreements

This dissertation analysis the Model Production Sharing Agreements, the Laws of the United Republic of Tanzania and Indonesia relating to exploration and development of petroleum through comparative analysis in order to see if Tanzania can emulate the Indonesian regulatory framework to remedy deficiencies. Indonesia is purposely chosen because it is the first country to introduce Production Sharing Agreement and it is the world’s largest producer of petroleum. The dissertation is divided into Five Chapters. Chapter One examines the concept of Production Sharing Agreement. It describes the general overview of the development of international petroleum agreements. It provides a historical perspective of the emergence of the three basic legal agreements so as to provide the reader with an overview of the main concepts pertiment to international petroleum exploration and exploitation. This will enable the reader to acquire a broad perspective of the different legal instruments that are in common use. In so doing I will build up a strong foundation of understanding the legal characteristics of production sharing agreements. Chapter Two introduces the policies as well as procedures pertaining to the licensing of exploration and production of petroleum in Tanzania. Chapter Three analysis the laws and institutions that regulate petroleum exploration and development activities in Tanzania. Chapter Four analyses the provisions and legal institutional set up in Indonesia. Chapter Fived provides summary of findings, conclusion and recommendations on the best way to resolve issues raised in this dissertation.