Motorists turn to CNG as fuel costs climb
GEITA: AN increasing number of motorists in Tanzania are adopting Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as pump prices for petrol and diesel continue to climb, according to the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC).
Lower pump prices and superior mileage are driving commercial tricycle (bajaji) operators, private car owners and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) fleets to switch fuels to cut running costs.
According to TPDC Communications Head Ms Marie Msellemu, the economic shift is driven by a massive price gap, with one kilogramme of CNG retailing at an average of 1,000/-, compared to nearly 4,000/- for a litre of petrol or diesel.
“During this period when there is uncertainty over fuel costs, natural gas has become a solution,” Ms Msellemu said during a workshop for journalists under the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project in Geita.
She said the lower cost and greater efficiency of CNG have attracted increasing numbers of users, including bajaji operators, private motorists and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services seeking to reduce operating costs.
Dar es Salaam now has an estimated 20,000 three wheelers’ operators and more than 3,000 vehicles running on natural gas, while about 3,000 households and institutions, including colleges and prisons, use natural gas for cooking.
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“The achievements of natural gas are significant, particularly in domestic, industrial and private use,” she said.
Ms Msellemu said Tanzania has 57.54 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven natural gas reserves and that TPDC has expanded CNG filling stations in Dar es Salaam from one to nine to meet growing demand.
Acting EACOP Project Officer at TPDC, Mr Jumanne Saidi, said research indicates that a vehicle travelling one kilometre on a litre of petrol or diesel can cover about 1.5 kilometres using one kilogramme of natural gas.
“Research shows the same vehicle can travel approximately 1.5 kilometres using one kilogramme of natural gas,” Mr Saidi said.
