Oil & Gas

The Deputy Minister for Energy, Hon. Judith Kapinga, has announced that the Government, through the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), plans to connect approximately 865 homes in Mtwara to a cooking gas system in areas already equipped with gas pipeline infrastructure. This development aims to promote safer and more sustainable energy usage in households. The announcement was made on May 13, 2025, during a parliamentary session in Dodoma, where Hon. Tunza Malipo had raised a question regarding the Government’s strategy to connect homes and institutions in Mtwara to gas for cooking.

"In Mtwara Region, the Government has already installed a natural gas distribution network in selected areas, with 425 homes and four institutions currently connected," Kapinga stated. She emphasized that the Government has completed the engineering design needed to move forward with connecting the remaining 865 homes. This move reflects the broader national energy strategy to make natural gas more accessible to communities, reducing reliance on traditional fuels like charcoal and firewood.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, has directed the Rural Energy Agency (REA) and TPDC to work together to speed up the gas connection process in the Mtwara and Lindi regions. This directive underscores the Government’s commitment to expanding energy access and improving living standards in southern Tanzania. In a response to another inquiry, Hon. Kapinga mentioned that TPDC is also planning to extend natural gas connections to various areas of Dar es Salaam, especially local markets where small food vendors operate.

Responding to concerns about government-subsidized gas cylinders not reaching enough citizens, Hon. Kapinga clarified that the Government will soon begin distributing around 420,000 subsidized gas cylinders, with a system requiring citizens to collect them using their national ID (NIDA) numbers. This initiative aims to ensure transparency and fair access to clean energy alternatives, particularly for low-income households. Parliamentarians, including Hon. Kondesta Sichwale, have also advised that distribution points be established at ward offices to simplify access for the public.