Dodoma. Tanzanian entrepreneurs are being offered an opportunity to enter the petroleum retail business through a partnership model that allows them to own and operate fuel stations under the TotalEnergies brand while benefiting from the company’s technical and operational support.
Under the Dealer-Owned, Dealer-Operated (DODO) arrangement, local investors finance and run their stations while using the international company’s brand and receiving support in areas such as training, operations and business management.
TotalEnergies Marketing Tanzania says more than 50 individuals have expressed interest in joining the programme, which it is using to expand its national network while increasing local participation in the petroleum sector.
Speaking during the launch of a new TotalEnergies service station at Mtumba, on Sunday November 1, 2026, the company’s Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Ms Getri Mpangil, said the model had attracted positive interest from Tanzanian investors.
‘Through this model, a station is owned and operated by an individual using the TotalEnergies brand. We have received a positive response, but we continue to welcome more Tanzanians who want to partner with us,’ she said.
The Mtumba station is owned by Tanzanian entrepreneur Vincent Limo, whose investment in the partnership has now grown to three outlets, following earlier stations in Tegeta and Madale in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Limo said his engagement with TotalEnergies began in 2016/17, when he approached the company to explore an arrangement that would enable him to own and operate fuel stations under its brand.
The agreement was reached in 2019, leading to the construction of his first station in Tegeta, which opened in December that year.
He said he had continued working with the company because it was the first to embrace his proposal and had provided support throughout the business relationship.
‘When you agree to work with a big company such as TotalEnergies, it does not leave you on your own. From the beginning, during sales and whenever you face challenges, the company is there to support you,’ he said.
Mr Limo encouraged prospective investors to assess the business carefully before committing their money, advising them to conduct feasibility studies and seek professional guidance.
He said the main challenge was not necessarily building a service station but managing its daily operations and meeting the associated costs.
TotalEnergies Network Operations Manager Adam Msangi said the DODO programme had been operating in Tanzania since 2014, giving entrepreneurs an opportunity to own and manage fuel stations while receiving training and continued operational support.
Ms Mpangil said the company currently operates more than 129 service stations across the country, with partnerships helping it extend its reach to more communities.