The Tanzania Petroleum Development
Corporation (TPDC) is planning to connect 42 companies to gas infrastructure.
So far, 37 factories have been connected. “We have enough
gas to connect as many
industries as we like, but we currently target 42 of
them due to capital woes and poor infrastructure,” according to TPDC acting
managing director Kapuulya Musomba.
He spoke of a rapid increase in medium and small-scale
factories. Since 2015, 81 new ones have
been built in Coast Region. “We use only 10 per cent of gas produced.”
He also said the city planning posed a challenge to
connect potential customers to gas systems.
Energy and Minerals deputy minister Medard Kalemani said
a plan was being prepared to enable some gas filling stations countrywide to
sell gas.
He said Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) was
the major gas consumer as the source of energy accounts for 65 per cent of
electricity in the national grid. Moreover, by the end of the year, the
Kinyerezi project will start using gas to generate power.
The chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Energy
and Minerals, Ms Hawa Ghasia, said the team would push for the improvement of
gas infrastructure to connect more plants.
“We are talking about industrialization and end the use
of fuelwood. What is needed is to ensure industries and homes can get gas
easily,” she said.
She also suggested that TPDC be involved in city planning
to create infrastructure for gas supplies.
Source: The Citizen