LAGOS, Oct 27 – Tanzania has discovered an estimated 223 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas in the Mnazi Bay area in the country’s south, marking its first gas discovery in more than a decade and adding to its substantial hydrocarbon resource base.
Energy Minister Juma Homera announced the discovery on Tuesday, identifying the Kasa-1X ST2 well as the location of the find. The well was explored jointly by state-owned Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and French oil and gas company Maurel & Prom.
Homera said TPDC and Maurel & Prom had drilled three wells, MB-5, MS-2 and Kasa-1X ST2, as part of efforts expected to help increase Tanzania’s natural gas supply.
Maurel & Prom has indicated that first gas production could begin as early as next month, although the timing will depend on the progress of development and production preparations.
Potential implications for gas supply
The discovery could support Tanzania’s efforts to expand domestic gas availability and develop its natural gas industry. Before the announcement, the country’s discovered gas reserves stood at approximately 57.5 trillion standard cubic feet, according to the energy regulator.
The newly announced 223 Bcf represents an additional reported resource discovery, although its contribution to commercially recoverable reserves and future production will depend on further technical and development assessments.
Homera also disclosed that TPDC was already in discussions with four investors planning small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.
The proposed projects could create additional routes for commercialising Tanzania’s gas resources, depending on investment decisions, infrastructure requirements and project execution.
Tanzania’s gas development outlook
The Mnazi Bay discovery comes as Tanzania explores ways to increase the use and commercialisation of its natural gas resources. The country’s existing discovered reserves provide a substantial resource base, while new discoveries and planned LNG projects could create opportunities to expand supply and investment.
However, the scale of the discovery’s eventual economic contribution will depend on production development, infrastructure availability and the commercial viability of extracting and processing the gas.
