By Alfred Zacharia
The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has invested TZS 8.4 billion to establish six mobile compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations in a move aimed at expanding the use of clean energy in transportation.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam on July 12, 2025, TPDC Director of Gas Business, Engineer Emmanuel Gilbert, said the project will cover Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, and Dodoma. A private company was awarded the contract on July 11 to carry out procurement and installation over six months.
Three of the mobile stations will be located in Dar es Salaam, while Morogoro and Dodoma will each host one and two stations respectively.
Eng. Gilbert said this marks a major step in improving access to CNG for vehicles and bajaji in the three regions.
“This means natural gas users will enjoy re-filling services from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. More vehicle owners will now be encouraged to install CNG systems in their cars and bajaji,” he said.
However, the official noted that remote areas such as mining zones will not benefit from the mobile CNG stations due to distance and high transportation costs.
He explained that CNG must be used within a 500-kilometre radius to remain profitable. Beyond that, it needs to be converted to liquid form, which allows transportation up to 1,500 kilometres.
Currently, Tanzania has at least six operational CNG filling stations, and four more are under construction. Among the key projects is a mother station being built by Puma Energy at IPTL in Tegeta, along with two daughter stations at Mabibo and Tanki Bovu.
Other daughter stations are being developed by private investors along Coca-Cola Road, Mbezi Beach, and Nyerere Road. These are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Eng. Gilbert added that several private companies have submitted requests to develop more CNG stations in Dar es Salaam.
Demand for CNG has been rising rapidly. In 2024, Tanzania had about 4,000 CNG-powered vehicles. That number has now grown to over 5,000 vehicles and more than 5,000 bajaji in 2025.
TPDC’s investment is part of broader government efforts to promote the use of cleaner and more affordable energy in the transport sector.