Tanzania has commissioned one of the largest Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations on the continent, a move officials hailed as a landmark step towards reducing urban emissions and modernising the country’s public transport infrastructure.
The state-of-the-art CNG facility constructed along the bustling Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (UDART) corridor, boasts a daily production capacity of 4.2 million cubic metres of gas and can refuel up to 1,200 vehicles per day, according to the Ministry of Energy.
During the inauguration, Tanzania also introduced first-ever public bus powered by natural gas—a prototype expected to form part of a new fleet in coming years.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Deputy Minister of Energy, Ms Judith Kapinga, on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Dr Doto Biteko, said the station is now the second-largest of its kind in Africa and the largest in the East African Community (EAC) region.
With the capacity to refuel up to 1,200 vehicles per day and operate 24 hours continuously, the station is a strategic milestone in Tanzania’s natural gas value chain and part of wider efforts to scale sustainable, cost-effective energy solutions.
Deputy Minister Kapinga credited President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership for transforming energy sector challenges into tangible solutions, citing the new station as evidence of a government delivering on its commitments.
She also praised the board and management of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) for executing the project with efficiency and foresight.
Addressing concerns over previous congestion at existing CNG refuelling stations, Ms Kapinga noted that the new facility—equipped with eight nozzles and capable of servicing eight vehicles simultaneously—directly addresses public complaints and exemplifies service delivery in action.
She emphasised the station’s role in decongesting facilities like Ubungo Maziwa and expanding clean energy access for industries, schools, hotels, and households.
Ms Kapinga instructed TPDC to maintain high safety and service standards at the new facility and to accelerate the rollout of similar stations in other regions, including Lindi and Mtwara.
She further urged continued public-private collaboration to grow CNG investments nationally and encouraged citizens to adopt gas-powered vehicle systems, citing cost savings of up to 40 per cent compared to petrol.
The CNG Mother Station boasts a daily capacity of 4.2 million cubic feet (equivalent to 120,000 kg) and is fitted with four pumps, each with dual nozzles, along with three specialized pumps to fill transport vehicles that deliver CNG to satellite stations, industries, and households.
TPDC has also initiated procurement for five mobile CNG stations to be deployed in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, and Dodoma—an indication of the state utility’s intent to expand access to cleaner energy technologies nationwide.
TPDC acting Managing Director Francis Mwakapalila reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to driving natural gas usage in transportation and reducing reliance on conventional fuels.
For his part, TPDC Board Chairman Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, pledged to end long queues and ensure steady availability of gas across user categories.
Dr James Mataragio, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, underscored the national significance of the project, stating that the station not only sets a new operational standard in the region but also demonstrates Tanzania’s readiness to lead in energy diversification and decarbonization efforts.
Parliamentary Energy and Minerals Committee Vice Chairperson, Mr Kilumbe Ng’enda, expressed satisfaction with the government’s pace in gas sector development.
He pointed to affordability as a key advantage—highlighting that gas-powered transport delivers up to 40 per cent in operating cost savings compared to fuel-based alternatives.
The Ubungo District Commissioner, Albert Msando, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting strategic energy infrastructure and ensuring seamless service delivery to citizens.
As Tanzania seeks to position itself as a regional clean energy hub, the commissioning of this landmark station marks a strategic inflection point in its natural gas strategy.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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