CHINESE contractor Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd who is building the compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has been directed to complete the project by December, this year.

Dr. James Mataragio, Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy issued the directives in Dar es Salaam over the weekend after inspecting the ongoing project along the Sam Nujoma Road in the city.

He stated that the station will have the capacity to produce three million cubic feet of CNG per day and will serve vehicles and industries, including the Kairuki Pharmaceuticals factory located in Kibaha, Coast Region.

“This is part of the country's strategies that President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been advocating for us to use clean energy, so through this project, in areas where we lack gas projects, we will use this station to transport gas via vehicles to provide this service. That's why I have instructed that this project be completed before December," he said.

Dr. Mataragio added that the station being constructed at the UDSM will serve vehicles and natural gas filling stations, emphasizing that investment in the gas sector will continue to increase, mentioning that after December, anyone in the region can establish their own gas station and enter into agreements with TPDC to receive gas services.

He noted that Tanzania is estimated to have 230 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, although only 57.5 trillion cubic feet have been confirmed so far, ranking it 82nd globally.

The PS stated that the gas has already begun to be extracted from Songosongo Island in Kilwa District, Coast Region, and from the Msimbati area in Mtwara Region, primarily for electricity generation and industrial use in the country.

Emanuel Gilbert, Director of Downstream Operations at the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), said once completed, residents of Morogoro, Mbeya, and Tanga will have access to CNG.

He explained that this access will be facilitated through specially equipped gas transport vehicles.

According to the Comprehensive Natural Gas Utilization Master Plan for Tanzania 2016-2045, 8.8 trillion cubic feet are allocated for electricity, 500 billion cubic feet for households, 3.6 trillion cubic feet for industries, and 600 billion cubic feet for vehicles.

TPDC is collaborating with the private sector to construct 30 refilling stations in Dar es Salaam, including locations such as Muhimbili, Kibaha, University of Dar es Salaam, Sinza, Mwenge, Goba, Mbezi Beach, and Mbagala.