Africa-Press – Tanzania. The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) have signed a land lease contract to construct the Compressed Natural Gas Mother station in the university area.
The area along Sam Nujoma opposite Mawasiliano house has 5,600 square meters.
This was unveiled on Wednesday by the TPDC Managing Director, Dr James Mataragio during a visit to centres for the natural gas distribution project in Nzasa-Sinza and Police Barracks & Mkenga Kurasini.
He said TPDC intends to build a CNG Mother station that will enable large vehicles to pick up the gas station and distribute it to various regions where infrastructure has not yet been reached.
“Currently the land on the construction site of the mother station has been acquired where TPDC will also build a modern garage that will be handed over to the college for ownership and operation,” said Dr Matagio.
He said TPDC is currently in the process of finding construction contractors through tenders where the project is expected to be completed in the financial year 2022/2023.
In addition to the mother station, TPDC is also constructing four other small stations at Kibaha, Muhimbili, Ferry and DART Ubungo.
“The organization currently plans to deliver gas to remote customers to increase gas consumption and also to enable gas users in cars to access services more easily. The plan is mainly to expand CNG stations so that gas can be more widely available in remote areas,” Dr Mataragio said.
However, Dr Mataragio said they have given a concept to the private sector where they continue to issue CNG building permits and so far more than 14 permits have been issued.
“Of these, three companies have already started work with one being BQ contractors who are also doing a natural gas installation at home. So we invite people to invest in CNG,” said Dr Mataragio
Furthermore, Dr Matagio also made a visit to the Natural Gas filling Station located at Ubungo Maziwa and witnessed vehicles queuing for gas filling.
Kurasini resident Jastine Kitive said that since he changed into system gas he has been using a quarter of his previous budget.
He said; “Before I spent 45,000/- walking 18 kilometres but currently I spend 15,000 /- to fill up with gas for 18km. I recommend the switch to CNG and stakeholders to speed up the installation of CNG filling stations”.
Ubungo Maziwa Natural Gas Filling Station Coordinator, James Mfinaga said they have served clients between 200 and 400 per day.
“Many customers have increased due to rising oil prices as gas costs 1,550 / – per kg,” said Mfinanga.
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