Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has invited local and foreign investors to undertake natural gas distribution projects in the country’s commercial capital of Dar es Salaam and the emerging industrial zones in Coast Region.
TPDC’s Acting Managing Director, Engineer Kapuulya Musomba said these opportunities will result for the conclusion of the determined projects covering 65km, over 30,000 houses in surveyed areas in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania media reported.
It is reported that Musomba also emphasized that the 532km gas pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam provides huge opportunities for power generation and investments along the path.
According to media, there is an existing gas 50 km distribution network connecting homes in Dar es Salaam.
The gas distribution network are said to be in Mtwara and Lindi, the hosting regions for the big chunk of 57.25 trillion cubic feet, which have so far been discovered onshore and offshore the Indian Ocean.
in addition, in Mkuranga District, Coast Region, Musomba said the national oil company has acknowledged some 53 industries, which will need the energy for production.
“We have already linked a pipeline to the recently established tile making factory, Goodwill Tanzania at a capacity of between 7 and 10 million cubic feet; we are in deliberations with three other industries to be linked to the network,” he explained.
He added: “Plans are to increase the distribution network to Kibaha and Bagamoyo districts to prompt industrialisation in Coast Region.”
Musomba continued: “TPDC will obtain a consultant in June, this year, to review a viability study carried out last year; the revised assessment will offer us with efficient financial and technical requirement for the project in Dar es Salaam.”
He also noted that a viability study for Mtwara and Lindi regions was being concluded, after which it will be followed by environmental and social impact assessment. “Original approximate that the distribution networks in the two regions will cover 31 km of gas pipelines to homes, industries and filling stations for motor vehicles,” he said.
For areas which are far from Dar es Salaam, the TPDC says it will transport the energy in form of Compressed Natural Gas to Tanga, Morogoro and Dodoma, media reported.