New gas exploration project brings fresh hope

Dar es salaam: The ongoing oil and natural gas exploration at the Ruvuma Block in Mtwara Region has revived fresh hope for Tanzania’s energy sector, as an assessment of 3D seismic data collected so far indicates the potential presence of 3.45 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Prior to this assessment, the area was reported to hold only 1.87 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The findings were disclosed in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday by Mr Erhan Saygi, the General Manager of ARA Petroleum Tanzania Ltd (APTL), the operator of the Ruvuma Block, during a workshop organised by the company to explain how the assessment has enhanced understanding of the block’s geology.

According to Mr Saygi, extensive work to process and assess 3D seismic data covering a total area of 338 square kilometres, acquired in 2022, enabled the company to gain a broader understanding of the Ruvuma Block.

“The results of the assessment of the 3D seismic data acquired and processed, together with the evaluation of other existing data in the Ruvuma Block—including 2D seismic data and data from wells drilled in the block—have given APTL confidence in the potential for discovering more natural gas in this area,” said Mr Saygi.

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During the workshop, which was attended by representatives from the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA) and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), the APTL General Manager said that, based on this optimism, the company will continue to conduct further studies in the Ntorya area to confirm the presence of the estimated volume of natural gas.

This year, APTL, in collaboration with TPDC and Ndovu Resources Ltd, plans to rehabilitate the Ntorya 1 well and conduct testing of the Ntorya 2 well. Both wells are expected to be production wells. In addition, the company and its partners will drill the Chikumbi 1 appraisal well.

Tanzania has been exploring for natural gas for more than 50 years, according to the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) website.

The country’s first natural gas discovery was made in 1974 on Songo Songo Island in Lindi Region, followed by a second discovery at Mnazi Bay in Mtwara Region in 1982.

Natural gas from Songo Songo was first commercialised in 2004, while gas from Mnazi Bay was commercialised in 2006. The commercialisation of the two discoveries propelled further onshore and offshore gas exploration.

Four service providers actively involved in midstream and downstream natural gas activities are the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), Songas Limited, Pan African Energy Tanzania Limited (PAET), and Maurel & Prom (M&P).

Other companies still engaged in offshore and onshore exploration include Ophir Energy plc, Shell/BG Group plc, Statoil, ExxonMobil, and Ndovu Resources (Aminex).

To date, discovered natural gas reserves in Tanzania amount to 57.54 trillion standard cubic feet (TCF).