Tanzania celebrates first natural gas discovery in more than 10 years

"The discovery is important in ensuring the country has reliable, clean and safe energy at affordable costs, particularly at a time when demand is increasing due to industrial growth and other economic activities," Homera said.

Natural gas accounted for nearly 80% of Tanzania's sources of electricity generation, according to government statistics for 2024.

In recent years, the country has also encouraged the use of compressed natural gas to power vehicles, with natural gas plants and filling stations set up mostly in the largest city, Dar es Salaam.

Some Tanzanians have been converting their vehicles to a dual-fuel system - with the locally available natural gas allowing for cheaper prices than petrol.

Tanzania made its first natural gas discovery in 1974 on the Songo Songo Island in the south-east Lindi region, followed by a second discovery at Mnazi Bay in neighbouring region of Mtwara in 1982.

The commercialisation of these discoveries began in 2004. This propelled further gas exploration both onshore and offshore, with the largest single discovery of 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in 2016.