The government of Tanzania has launched a new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station in Dar es Salaam as a move to promote sustainable energy.
The inauguration was officiated by Deputy Minister for Energy, Judith Kapinga, who highlighted the government’s commitment to improving service delivery and supporting eco-friendly transport solutions.
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The state-of-the-art facility, managed by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), is equipped with pumps that can fuel eight vehicles at once and will operate around the clock. The development aims to ease congestion at existing stations and bolster the adoption of cleaner energy alternatives in the country.
The facility is capable of serving up to 1,200 vehicles each day. Deputy Minister for Energy noted that the new facility would alleviate pressure on older stations like the one at Ubungo Maziwa, which has seen long queues due to growing demand for natural gas.
In a symbolic move towards greener public transportation, the event also featured a natural gas-powered demonstration bus from Dar Rapid Transit (UDART). The bus represents a future shift in urban mobility, where public vehicles increasingly rely on cleaner fuel options.
TPDC Board Chairman, Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, emphasized the corporation’s broader mission to increase the availability of natural gas across Tanzania. He stated that the station would not only serve motorists but also deliver CNG to institutions such as schools, hotels, and factories using specially outfitted trucks. This, he added, would significantly reduce reliance on traditional petroleum fuels.
Kilumbe Ng’enda, Vice Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals, praised the initiative, citing that switching to CNG could reduce fuel expenses by more than 40 percent compared to petrol or diesel. He also underscored the environmental benefits of expanding natural gas infrastructure in line with the country’s long-term sustainability goals.
The new CNG station is the largest of its kind in East Africa and the second-largest in Africa, signaling Tanzania’s growing leadership in clean energy development. The project aligns with the government’s broader vision of transitioning to a green economy through investment in affordable and environmentally responsible energy sources.
