G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff
G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation
Tanzania’s shift towards compressed natural gas (CNG) as a vehicle fuel marks a significant step in its quest for cleaner and more affordable energy solutions. With vast reserves of natural gas, the country is aiming to reduce its dependence on petrol and diesel. However, the ambitious fuel revolution is currently hindered by a major obstacle: the lack of sufficient CNG filling stations. As a result, early adopters of the technology are facing long queues and delays, slowing down what could be a transformative change for the East African nation’s transportation sector.
CNG offers substantial cost savings compared to traditional fuels. For commercial drivers, particularly taxi operators and three-wheeled vehicle owners, switching to CNG can cut fuel expenses by more than half. For instance, taxi owner Samuel Amos Irube spent around 1.5 million Tanzanian shillings to convert his vehicle to run on CNG. While the investment seemed worthwhile due to lower running costs, the scarcity of filling stations in Dar es Salaam means he now spends hours in line to refuel, reducing his potential earnings. This frustration is echoed by many other drivers who experience similar delays at the city’s limited CNG stations.
The growing demand for CNG stems from both environmental and economic benefits. Natural gas burns cleaner than petrol or diesel, leading to fewer emissions and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. Additionally, the availability of locally sourced natural gas in Tanzania allows for significantly lower fuel prices. Motorists like Juma, who operates a CNG-powered vehicle, report spending 15,000 shillings to cover 180 kilometers, which is less than half of what they would spend on petrol for the same distance. Such savings are highly attractive, especially in a country where fuel costs are a significant burden for many.
Despite these advantages, the infrastructure to support the CNG revolution has not kept pace with demand. There are currently only four filling stations in Dar es Salaam, which leads to long queues and hours of waiting. Early users of the technology recall a time when filling stations were underutilized, but the rapid increase in CNG-powered vehicles has overwhelmed the existing infrastructure. The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), which oversees the CNG initiative, acknowledges that the surge in demand was unexpected and that there is an urgent need to expand the network of filling stations.
Efforts to address the infrastructure gap are underway. TPDC is constructing a central CNG "mother station" in Dar es Salaam to supply gas to smaller stations across the country. Additionally, the corporation is acquiring five mobile CNG units that will be deployed in key cities such as Dodoma and Morogoro. Private companies, including Taqa Arabia from Egypt, are also stepping in to build more stations and replicate the success seen in other countries like Egypt, where CNG adoption is widespread.
Tanzania’s CNG initiative is part of a broader trend across Africa, with countries like Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Ethiopia also exploring natural gas as a viable alternative fuel. Egypt has been a pioneer in this space, converting around half a million vehicles to run on CNG since the 1990s. Tanzania aims to follow suit, with government targets calling for near-total adoption of CNG by mid-century.
While the long-term prospects of Tanzania’s CNG revolution remain promising, the immediate challenge lies in expanding the infrastructure to meet the growing demand. For now, motorists will continue to endure long waits at filling stations. However, with ongoing efforts from both the government and private investors, the future looks brighter for Tanzania’s transition to cleaner and more affordable vehicle fuel.
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