Madimba plant to process Ntorya gas next December

MADIMBA Gas Processing Plant is projected to start processing additional 60 million cubic feet per day (mcfpd) of natural gas from the Ntorya gas field in Mtwara coming next December.

The plant, a subsidiary of Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), currently is on the final stage of constructing a 35-kilometre gas pipeline from Ntorya Gas Reserve to Madimba.

The TPDC Communications Manager, Ms Marie Msellemu, said they are finalising the process of paying compensation to 255 villagers for the land where the pipeline will pass from Ntorya to Madimba.

“Some 437m/- has been allocated to compensate the villagers mostly,” Ms Msellemu said.

She further said the processing capacity for gas from Ntorya will more than double from 60 mcfpd to 140 mcfpd in the next two years to stay ahead of gas demand.

“We will start to process gas from Ntorya at a lower capacity before doubling the capacity in the next two years,” she told reporters who recently visited the Madimba plant.

Madimba Gas Plant Manager, Eng Leonce Mrosso said the plant has the capacity of processing 210mcfpd gas from Mnazi Bay gas field some 10 kilometres away.

“The gas is pumped from Mnazi Bay to Madimba through a 16-inch pipe, most of our gas is pumped to Dar es Salaam [some 551 kilometres away] for generating power and running some manufacturers factories,” Eng Mrosso said.

Additionally, Dar is getting natural gas from Songo Songo plant with a capacity of processing 140mcfpd.

In total, Eng Mrosso said, Madimba and Songo Songo plants process 350 million cubic feet per day.

ANNE ROBI, DAILY NEWS Reporter in Mtwara reported that some of the “wananchi” lined to pave way for construction of the pipeline, highly thanked TPDC for ensuring smooth and timely payment of their compensation.

“We really appreciate the way TPDC cooperated with us as they conducted the process right from the beginning when they introduced the project to us (‘Wananchi’) to date, we have not had any problem so far,” said Hassan Mohammed, one of the beneficiaries of the compensation.

One Fatma Abdalla said TPDC conducted the process fairly by ensuring that each and every one lined to vacate his/her piece of land was satisfied with the way the corporation is conducting the process to settle their compensation.

“I did not experience any problem during the process, the corporation (TPDC) explained to us well how each and every one was supposed to be paid based on the size of land provided by each,” she said.

Mtendachi Village Executive Officer, Muhidin Ally said the plan to construct the pipeline through the village was crucial as the villagers will benefit from social and economic opportunities to come along during and after the construction of the pipeline.

“One of the benefits is that various youths from our village and others will benefit from job opportunities, especially during the construction process, women and other people will have the opportunity to sell food and other stuff during implementation of the project,” he said.

The construction of the gas pipeline from Ntorya Gas Reserve to Madimba Gas Processing Plant involves passing through five wards and eleven villages in Mtwara District Council.