Tanzania has discovered a significant deposit of natural gas in two villages located in the Mtwara Region, about 500 kilometres south of Dar es Salaam.
The discovery was made in the villages of Mnyundo and Mpapura, where water wells were found to be leaking natural gas.
The ongoing exploration in the Lindi–Mtwara Block, which covers a total of 48 villages across approximately 736 square kilometres—40 from the Mtwara District Council (Mtwara DC) and eight from the Mtama District Council (Mtama DC)—has revealed strong indications of natural gas presence, particularly in the two villages.
Speaking during a tour to oil and gas projects site in the Mtwara Region, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Dr. James Mataragio, said preliminary studies indicate a high potential for substantial natural gas reserves in the area.
Elaborating further, Dr. Mataragio noted that analysis of previously collected seismic data shows up to a 32 percent probability of gas presence in the block.
He added that demand for natural gas has been rising across various sectors, including industrial use, domestic consumption, and transportation, prompting the government to continue promoting exploration and development of energy resources in line with the objectives of the National Development Vision 2050.
During his visit, Dr. Mataragio also inspected the Mnazi Bay Gas Production Expansion Project, noting that the project is currently 68 percent complete in its preparation phase.
The Mnazi Bay project involves three natural gas wells, with the government expecting to increase production by an average of 45 million cubic feet per day from two of the wells, while the third well will be used for further exploration in another section of the block.
Moreover, he directed the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to ensure that all projects are completed according to the established schedules.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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