Three more CNG stations in offing

TANZANIA plans to construct three Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations before the end of this 2022/23 fiscal year as part of a larger initiative to deliver cleaner and more affordable energy.

This was revealed on Tuesday by Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr Stephen Byabato when responding to a basic question by Special Seats MP Bupe Mwakanga’ta who wanted to know the government’s plan on opening more natural gas filling stations.

The Deputy Minister told the house that the government has already procured the contractor for the construction of the stations.

Out of the expected three, the Deputy Minister added, one will be constructed in Mkuranga by Dangote Company.

However, he said, the government has already issued permits to 20 companies to build CNG stations.

He also said the government will build two stations including a CNG mother station at Mlimani City, Dar es Salaam which will be used to distribute gas to various regions.

Responding to a supplementary question by the MP who wanted to know the government plans on reducing the price of the equipment used to convert vehicles from diesel and petrol fuel to natural gas, the Deputy Minister said the only plan is to encourage more players to enter in the conversion kit business .

“Once many people are into business, automatically the competition will increase and the costs of equipment will be reduced,” he said.