Tanzania has announced a significant discovery of natural gas in the Mnazi Bay area in the southern part of the country, marking the first find of its kind in ten years. Energy Minister Juma Homera participated in a ceremony at the Kasa-1X ST2 well to celebrate the discovery.
Energy Sector Milestone
The well is jointly owned by the state-owned Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation and the French oil company Maurel & Prom. Homera stated that the estimated 223 billion cubic feet, equivalent to 6.3 billion cubic metres, represents a major milestone for the small oil and gas sector in the East African nation.
The newly found well aims to increase domestic supplies and is scheduled to begin production early next month. Government statistics from 2024 indicate that natural gas provided nearly 80 percent of the electricity generation sources in Tanzania, which already holds existing natural gas reserves totaling 57.54 trillion cubic feet.
Homera noted that the find plays a critical role in guaranteeing dependable, clean, and safe energy at reasonable prices, particularly amidst rising demand driven by economic activities and industrial growth.
Vehicle Fuel Transition
To power vehicles, the nation has recently promoted compressed natural gas usage, establishing filling stations and natural gas plants primarily within Dar es Salaam, the largest city. To take advantage of locally available natural gas that offers cheaper prices compared to petrol, several Tanzanians have converted their automobiles to dual-fuel systems.
Tanzania recorded its initial natural gas find in 1974 on Songo Songo Island in the south-east Lindi region, followed by a second discovery at Mnazi Bay located in the adjacent Mtwara region in 1982. Commercialization of these finds commenced in 2004, driving further onshore and offshore gas exploration that led to the largest single discovery of 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in 2016.
