Tanzania on Thursday announced the discovery of significant natural gas deposits in the villages of Mnyundo and Mpapura in the Mtwara region, located about 500 km south of Dar es Salaam.
The discovery was made during ongoing exploration activities in the Lindi-Mtwara Block, which covers 736 square kilometers and includes 48 villages across Mtwara and Mtama district councils.
Natural gas was found leaking from water wells in Mnyundo and Mpapura, indicating promising reserves, said James Mataragio, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Energy, adding that preliminary studies suggest a high potential for natural gas in the area.
"Based on previously collected seismic data, there is up to a 32 percent probability of gas presence in the block," he noted.
He said that the growing demand for natural gas across industrial, domestic and transportation sectors has prompted the government to step up exploration efforts in line with Tanzania's Development Vision 2050.
The project involves three wells, with two expected to produce an additional 45 million cubic feet of gas per day. The third well, he said, will support further exploration within the block.
According to official statistics from the Ministry of Energy, Tanzania's natural gas reserves are currently estimated at around 57.54 trillion cubic feet, with more than 49 trillion cubic feet located in offshore fields.
Editor:Leo
