Dar es Salaam city builds gas pipeline

Dar es Salaam city builds gas pipeline

Tuesday, 28 February 2012 05:43 Kenan Kalagho

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA - A state owned, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has embarked on US$2.8m (Tsh4.5b) project aimed at connecting Dar residential houses and industrial areas with compressed natural gas (CNG).
The TPDC's senior principal research and project development officer responsible for natural gas, Ms. Joyce Kisamo   said construction of the gas pipeline from Ubungo in the northern part of Dar city to the light industrial area, Mikocheni which located in the north east is in progress.
Ms. Kisamo said the pipeline aimed to connect about 57 residential houses in the area once the project completed.

Songo Songo Gas Plant staff demonstrate how gas is produced at the Kilwa plant recently. (Photo By Leonard Magomba)

"The purpose of this project is to connect more residential houses as well as industrial areas in Dar es Salaam and later on the other parts of the country, "she said. 
"The project will provide affordable power that will reduce the cost of production as well as deforestation and pollution in the country."
Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) has been mandated with gas installations activities after receiving training from the UK based firm, Consultant Brackno Limited in partnership with Kimpils Consult Limited, a local consulting firm based in Tanzania.
According to Ms Kisamo,  other institutions which will receive similar gas installation training include  the Bureau of Industries Corporation (BIDCO) under the University Dar es Salaam and Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA).
She said the training would enable local engineers and technicians to train other Tanzanians to carry out natural gas pipeline project connections and installations wherever needed. The training was also aimed at building capacity and       practical demonstrations to Tanzanian engineers on maintenance and on operation of natural gas infrastructure in the country,Kisamo said.
Minister for energy and minerals William Ngeleja said the government partnership with Swala Energy is very important for the development of     both oil and gas exploration and drilling in the country.
The TPDC managing director, Mr. Yona Kilagane, said since the discovery of gas from  2004 to 2011, the government has saved almost US$2.10 m (Tsh.3.3b) from the importation of fuel used to run generators.
"This is due to the fact that natural gas contributes 416 megawatts to the national grid which accounts for 35% of all the electricity produced in the country," Kilagane said.