Mziray , AminaLongopa, EvaristoMwanga, Elia2024-08-192024-08-192023Mziray, A., Longopa, E., & Mwanga, E. (2023). Legal and institutional framework on decommissioning of upstream petroleum installations and protecting of marine ecosystem in Tanzania. The Eastern African Law Review, 50(1), 169-199.URL: https://journals.udsm.ac.tz/index.php/ealr/article/download/6547/5179https://repository.udom.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12661/4854Abstract. Full text available at: https://journals.udsm.ac.tz/index.php/ealr/article/download/6547/5179This article examines the effectiveness of Tanzania's legislative and institutional framework governing decommissioning of petroleum projects in protecting marine ecosystems. The data used in this article were collected using semi-structured interviews and content analysis of laws, reports, and academic works. The findings show that Tanzania's legal and institutional frameworks are inadequate and ineffective in addressing decommissioning as a whole. The article unveils that the law and practice in Tanzania lack effective mechanisms to ensure that decommissioning in petroleum projects results in positive outcomes for the protection of marine ecosystems. The legal regime imposes no mandatory obligation to the license holder to conduct an assessment to guide on the choice of decommissioning alternative. The article, therefore, suggests reform in the legal regime governing decommissioning of petroleum projects with a special focus on the protection of marine ecosystems.enDecommissioningupstream Petroleum OperationsOil and GasMarine EcosystemLegal Framework.Article