CNG cools diesel and petrol inflation rates in Tanzania

GEITA: THE Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has hailed the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for helping cool down the impact of rising diesel and petrol prices in the country.

The Head of TPDC’s Public Relations and Communications Unit, Ms Marie Msellemu, made the statement during a special workshop for journalists held in Geita under the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.

Ms Marie said that, currently, one kilogramme of CNG is sold at an average price of 1,000/- tshs, while one litre of diesel or petrol costs an average of 4,000/- tshs, adding that CNG can provide longer travel distances compared with the two petroleum products.

She said that due to the lower cost and efficiency of natural gas, many vehicle owners have shown a strong interest in installing CNG systems as an alternative source of energy to petrol and diesel.

According to her, the response has increased the number of vehicles using natural gas, including three-wheelers (bajajis), private cars and rapid transit buses, thereby helping owners reduce their operating costs.

She said statistics show that Dar es Salaam currently has an estimated 20,000 bajaji operators and more than 3,000 vehicles using natural gas as an alternative to petrol and diesel.

“For domestic use, we have approximately 3,000 customers who use natural gas for cooking, including institutions such as colleges and prisons.

“In short, the achievements of natural gas are significant, particularly in domestic, industrial and private use,” Marie said.

She said Tanzania has 57.54 trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of natural gas reserves and, in recognition of growing demand, TPDC has increased the number of CNG filling stations from one to nine in Dar es Salaam.

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“During this period when there is uncertainty over fuel costs, natural gas has become a solution,” she stressed.

The Acting EACOP Project Officer from TPDC, Mr Jumanne Saidi, said research has shown that if one litre of diesel or petrol enables a vehicle to travel one kilometre, the same vehicle can travel approximately 1.5 kilometres using one kilogram of natural gas.

It should be noted that global petrol and diesel prices doubled following the war between the United States and Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, an important route for oil transportation.