THE Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has been tasked with increasing compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations for motorists in Dar es Salaam and Coast regions from the current two stations to 30 during the current financial year.

Felchesmi Mramba, the Energy permanent secretary, aired this intention yesterday in remarks to journalists when visiting pavilions linked to the ministry at the 48th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF 2024).

Areas where the stations will be installed include Muhimbili, Kibaha, Sinza, Mwenge, Goba, Mbezi Beach, Mbagala and the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) where TPDC will take lead, collaborating with the private sector. 

Filling stations stocking CNG are fed by trucks to filling stations at the Muhimbili National Hospital and Ferry station at Kigamboni.

Initial plans provide for installing gas stations in different areas of the region, to amplify on the Buguruni and Ubungo Maziwa filling stations apparently referred to by the ministerial top executive.

"In Dar es Salaam, we expect to have them by next year, we also expect to have stations and mobile filling stations to serve those who want to fill cars with gas at specified places," he stated.

He expressed optimism on progress in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project from Hoima in northern Uganda to Chongoleani port facility in Tanga, noting that it is about 30 percent complete. Upwards of 600 kilometers of pipes had arrived towards the end of last year and were being laid out.

He reiterated the government’s wish that the private sector invest in gas filling facilities to increase the speed of available service centres, urging greater collaboration with TPDC without explicitly setting out the commercial arrangements for mainstreaming that effort.

 “Through TPDC and the steps that the ministry has been taking, we believe the private sector will involve itself so that we do not exclusively rely on TPDC," he said.

Visiting the EWURA pavilion he said that the agency has helped to stabilise the price of fuel and exercised oversight on the quality of electricity supply services.

As for natural gas, EWURA has helped to manage the resource and ensure the quality of supply services provided to the public, he said, with Dr James Mwainyekule, EWURA director general, pointing at agreements with electricity suppliers on its services.

EWURA had last month signed a contract with the Tanzania Electric Supply Co. (TANESCO) to measure efficiency, its performance and the way it carries out its work.

"Investment is being made by the government where until June 30 the quality of fuel had reached 97 percent,” he specified, pointing at its monitoring of prices on the world market for clues on what can be done locally.

"Approximately 5,000 vehicles are using gas so far and this has helped significantly to reduce foreign currency needs for oil importation,” he added.