Natural gas project to change household energy in Tanzania

Dar/Mtwara. The Tanzanian government is set to connect at least 900 households in Lindi and Coast regions to natural gas systems starting November this year.

The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) said the one-year project aimed at increasing domestic natural gas users.

Increased utilisation will accelerate development through increased income generation activities and create jobs for unemployed youth.

Most importantly, the amplified use of natural gas with abundant deposits in the country will enable a smoother transition to cleaner energy.

TPDC engineer Tumaini Daniel told The Citizen in a recent interview that the connectivity project will commence in November for the Lindi and Coast regions as funds mobilisation continues for the implementation of a similar project in the Mtwara Region.

He said 425 homes have been connected to natural gas in Mtwara in the first phase executed between 2019 and 2021.

“The second phase aims to connect 400 households in the Lindi Region and 500 in the Coast Region,” he said.

TPDC marketing officer, Ms Neema Cleophas, said 1,514 households have been connected to natural gas countrywide.

“Over 150 homes have been connected in Dar es Salaam, 425 households in Mtwara, and over 200 in Mnazi Bay,” she explains.

She emphasised that TPDC’s strategy is to increase its budget, as outlined in the Clean Energy Plan for 2024-2034, to secure funds for expanding natural gas connections to more households.

How natural gas reduces environmental impact

The National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy (2024-2034) recognises natural gas as a cleaner energy source as it emits lower carbon dioxide levels.

Tanzania has 57.54 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposits containing 97 percent methane.

In 2004, the country started using natural gas for power generation, industrial purposes, and household consumption.

The Forum for Conservation of Nature (Focona) director, Mr Nyachiriga Msalya, praised measures to use natural gas in households as a saviour for the environment.

The leader of a non-governmental organisation based in Mtwara Mikindani said Lilungu Prison and Mtwara Technical Institute, which once heavily relied on firewood, have switched to natural gas. “Natural gas is environmentally friendly. It helps to preserve the environment by reducing the use of charcoal and firewood; therefore, TPDC should speed up the execution of household connectivity projects to protect rural environments and neighbourhoods,” he said.

An environmentalist, Mr Frank Abel, highlighted the importance of domestic use of natural gas, hinting that switching to natural gas will enable Tanzania to mitigate climate change impacts and reduce environmental degradation.

“Natural gas is cleaner compared to petroleum or coal. It produces lower levels of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide, and harmful residues that are dangerous to animals and plants, particularly the environment,” noted Mr Abel.

He said natural gas use preserves forests and land by reducing staggering tree-felling for firewood and charcoal production as the main energy sources.

“Promoting the use of natural gas will reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal, thus improving forest conservation, which is important in absorbing carbon dioxide and maintaining biodiversity,” he said.

Natural gas benefits to households

A resident of Mwenge and a retired public servant, Mr Walter Swai, shared how his life has improved after switching to natural gas. “The smoke and the constant need to budget for bags of charcoal are no longer a worry for my family since we started using natural gas,” he said.

Mr Swai, who lives in the Swala neighbourhood of Mwenge, Dar es Salaam, said his household was connected to natural gas two years ago, describing the move as a game changer.

Furthermore, he said the environment has become cleaner, and the cost of life has been manageable.

“Previously, my family spent Sh20,000 per day on charcoal. But two and a half units of natural worth Sh2,500 are used for several days,” says Mr Swai.

He admits that shifting to natural gas has enabled him to serve Sh10,000 monthly on cooking energy.

A resident of Mlalakua in Dar es Salaam, Ms Rabia Abdallah, has been using natural gas for four years, noting the economic and environmental benefits are evident. “Troubles brought about by charcoal dust and black soot have been eliminated after transitioning to natural gas about four years ago.”

A similar experience was shared by a resident of the Reli neighbourhood in Mtwara, Ms Pishtua Rajab, who said natural gas was cost-effective.

“I use only five units per month, which costs Sh1,000 per unit. In contrast, a Sh27,000 bag of charcoal wouldn’t last a month,” she said.

A resident of Nzasa in Dar es Salaam, Ms Veronika Saimon, said a 10-person household uses Sh20,000 on natural gas per month.

“A bag of charcoal costs between Sh30,000 and 40,000, depending on the size, and lasts only a week,” she says.

Government initiatives

A representative of Nzasa Neighbourhood in Temeke District, Dar es Salaam Region, Ms Zena Hamad, says more than 100 people in her neighbourhood have been connected to natural gas.

“Initially, many people hesitated to switch to natural gas utilisation because of ignorance of its advantages. I went door-to-door explaining the benefits of natural gas compared to charcoal. Now, many people have applied for connections,” he said.

She added that her household used to spend Sh35,000 on charcoal for a month, but costs have declined significantly so that Sh50,000 worth of natural gas lasts after six months. The Reli A neighbourhood chairman in Mtwara, Ms Hadija Ngalumbana, says natural gas connections for domestic purposes have created a smoke-free and healthier environment.

“Natural gas is cheaper than any other energy source. One unit costs Sh1,000, and it lasts for a long time. Since I started using it, I’ve stopped using charcoal, which has helped me contribute to environmental conservation,” she says.

Tabling the 2024/2025 budget, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Dr Doto Biteko says the approved National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy for 2024-2034 aims to enhance the transitioning of 80 percent of Tanzanians to clean cooking energy by 2034.

He explains that the strategy outlines various stakeholders’ roles and includes reducing the cost of clean energy, equipment, and efficient cooking stoves.

The strategy also focusses on ensuring reliable access to raw materials and infrastructure for clean cooking energy, encouraging investment in the sector, and raising public awareness about the benefits of using clean energy for cooking.

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