Tanzânia, All Africa, Inglês

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DODOMA — THE government has assured the public that it is taking affirmative action to ensure the country’s natural gas benefits Tanzanians and contributes significantly to the nation’s economic growth.

The Deputy Minister for Energy, Ms Judith Kapiga gave the assurance in Parliament yesterday when legislators, led by Josephat Gwajima ( CCM-Kawe), who sought the government’s response on plans on the table to ensure Dar es Salaam residents benefit from the natural gas.

Mr Gwajima, in his basic question, sought answers from the government on when it will lay natural gas pipelines in Dar es Salaam to avail cooking energy to households.

Responding to the question, the deputy minister said the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), in collaboration with TAQA Dalbit company, is carrying out research of natural gas demand, including identifying routes where pipelines can be laid to supply gas to the houses in Dar es Salaam.

According to the deputy minister, the research is expected to be completed in June 2024, and its findings will help the government to come up with an explicit programme that will consider challenges related to urban planning in Dar es Salaam.

The deputy minister said the private sector is highly encouraged to invest in natural gas supply infrastructure in various parts of the country.

However, the deputy minister said TPDC continues with the implementation of various natural gas supply projects in Dar es Salaam.

According to Ms Kapinga, TPDC has connected a total of 880 houses to natural gas through pipelines in Dar es Salaam, of which 226 are at Sinza, 115 at Mikocheni, 344 at Kurasini, and 155 at Mwenge Mlalakuwa and University of Dar es Salaam.

She said the plan in the near future is to connect 10,000 houses to natural gas, as part of the government efforts to avail the cooking energy.

The deputy minister further said TPDC has laid a 12.4-Kilometre gas pipeline from Mwenge to Mbezi in Dar es Salaam along Bagamoyo Road, with outlets to allow more houses to be connected to it.

“As we speak, two industries and six hotels have been connected to the pipeline at the Mbezi Beach area, and more customers will be connected to the gas pipeline,” the deputy minister said.

Some MPs, who stood up for the supplementary questions, raised concern on the implementation of the programme that involves the promotion of gas use in the country as an alternative source of cooking energy, saying the high cost of cylinders and the gas itself will thwart efforts.