DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA has managed to save a whopping 52 billion US dollars (about 121tri/-) since 2004 when it started using natural gas for generating electricity, according to the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA).
Authority‘s Director General, Eng Charles Sangweni, revealed this during the visit of the PURA’s board of directors to the Ntorya area, a conventional gas development area which is operated by ARA Petroleum Tanzania in the region.
Sangweni argued that the natural gas production, transportation and consumption will help to lead the country’s economy to recovery because it reduces dependency on imported fuel for power production.
He said before embarking on the use of natural gas, they conducted reconnaissance surveys which aimed to identify specific areas showing indicators of gas and petrol.
Ntolya gas field exploration, acquisition valuation and data collection started in July and ended on 0ctober 10. This established that the possibility of gas availability was 1.6 trillion cubic feet.
“We believe that with the availability of natural gas in this area, we will involve supply gas directly to the Madimba Gas Processing Plant via pipeline and supply gas to Wananchi for domestic use,” he said.
He said so far, 60 per cent of electricity in the country is generated from natural gas.
He assured that the government was continuing to invest in infrastructures so that the natural gas could reach to large market within and outside the country, citing neighboring countries such as Kenya and Uganda as potential market.
On his part, member of the board, Harry Kejo Kajato, said during their visit they learned about high technology and equipment used during data collection which is different from previous technologies, noting that the move would help to strengthen exploration of oil and natural in the country.
Kajato added that, if the natural gas would be discovered at Ntolya area, it will help to increase the power generation, calling on the government to continue investing in the sector.
Representative of ARA Tanzania Petroleum LTD, Stan Schlesinger, said their duty was to make sure the operation is carried out safely, successfully and efficiently with quality data.
He said during the exercise the local content was considered whereby about 160 people were employed at the camp, out of them 89 people were from surrounding villages, something which helped to boost economies of the local.
Source: Nam News Network