TANZANIA PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO CONNECT 40 INDUSTRIES WITH NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has listed about 40 industries that will be connected to the natural gas pipeline. The move will enable manufacturers to considerably cut production costs which will lead to reduction of prices of goods and services.

According to TPDC Board of Directors Chairman, Michael Mwanda, the cost of the initial pilot project stands at Tshs 4.6 billion, all funded by the government through TPDC.

He said that the corporation has also launched the direct supply of natural gas to homes in Dar es Salaam, raising new hopes of accessing the crucial energy more cheaply.

“We have inaugurated the distribution pipelines that connect to 57 initial homes. The new system will supply gas from Ubungo main station to Mikocheni homes and will later be extended to other sections of the city. The aim is to see most homes in Dar es Salaam connected to the natural gas supply system,” he said.

Already three gas distribution centers have been constructed in Sinza, Mwenge and Manzese sections of the city for ease access.

“This is the first natural gas distribution infrastructure project under TPDC. With this system people will be able to buy gas in a pre-paid arrangement as they do with electricity through Luku. They will buy gas unit using special cards,” he said.

He said pipeline supplied gas was cheap compared to other types of gas and is environmental friendly.

“We hope more people will switch to using natural gas instead of charcoal and other energy sources that have proved to be bad for the environment,” he noted.