Oil & Gas

At the African Energy Week 2024 in Cape Town, Gazprom introduced a pilot project aimed at supporting Tanzania's growing natural gas vehicle (NGV) market. The project involves the supply of two compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling trucks, which will be used to refuel various vehicles with CNG and transport the fuel to different locations. Gazprom highlighted that the number of Tanzanian car owners opting for natural gas is rapidly increasing, and these new fueling trucks will help meet the rising demand for daily fuelings in the region.

In addition to their role in refueling vehicles, the CNG trucks have a broader potential use, according to Gazprom. They can also facilitate the autonomous gasification of industrial and household consumers, helping expand access to clean and reliable energy. This aligns with Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to grow its natural gas infrastructure. The country increased its natural gas production by 9.3% in 2023, reaching 2.33 billion cubic meters, according to Eni statistics. As Tanzania continues to invest in its energy sector, the introduction of such technologies will be key in supporting sustainable growth.

Gazprom's department head Dmitry Khandogi emphasized that countries in the Global South, and particularly those in Africa, represent a significant opportunity for natural gas consumption growth. The combination of growing populations and urbanization on the continent is creating an increasing need for affordable, clean energy sources. Gazprom believes its extensive experience in developing domestic gas markets, along with its technological expertise and equipment, could help meet Africa’s energy supply challenges. This is part of the company’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence on the African continent.

In addition to the NGV-focused project, Russian energy officials discussed a range of potential collaboration opportunities at the forum. Roman Marshavin, Deputy Minister of Energy in Russia, highlighted areas such as oil and gas, renewable energy, network infrastructure modernization, and digital technologies as key prospects for cooperation. He also noted that Russia’s experience in improving energy security and efficiency could help address issues such as energy outages and inefficiencies in African countries. Another priority is training energy sector professionals, with Russia offering to share its expertise in areas like oil, gas, mining, and energy sector digitalization.