Tanzania has announced a new natural gas discovery in the Mnazi Bay area in the south of the country, marking its first major gas find in a decade.
Energy Minister Juma Homera attended a ceremony at the Kasa-1X ST2 well to mark the discovery. The well is jointly owned by the state-owned Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and French oil and gas company Maurel & Prom.
The discovery contains an estimated 223 billion cubic feet (6.3 billion cubic meters) of natural gas. Homera described it as a major milestone for Tanzania’s oil and gas sector.
The government expects the new well to begin production early next month, with the gas set to increase domestic supply.
Tanzania already holds an estimated 57.54 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. Homera said the latest discovery would help the country provide reliable, cleaner and affordable energy as industrial growth and other economic activities drive up demand.
Natural gas accounted for nearly 80% of Tanzania’s electricity generation sources in 2024, according to government statistics. The country has also expanded the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles, particularly in Dar es Salaam, where gas-powered plants and filling stations support its adoption.
Some vehicle owners in Tanzania have converted their cars to dual-fuel systems, allowing them to switch between petrol and locally available natural gas, which costs less than petrol.
Tanzania first discovered natural gas in 1974 on Songo Songo Island in the Lindi region. The country made its second discovery in 1982 at Mnazi Bay, in the neighboring Mtwara region.
Commercial production from these discoveries began in 2004, encouraging further exploration across onshore and offshore areas. The country’s largest single gas discovery came in 2016, when exploration activities identified an estimated 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
source:www.bbc.com
African Energy Council