The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals has called on private investors to collaborate with the Government in expanding Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure to improve service availability in Dar es Salaam and other regions, including Morogoro and Dodoma.
The call was issued on 19 February 2026 during a Committee visit to the Mother CNG Station located at Mlimani in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking at the event, the Committee Chairperson, Subira Mgalu, said the Government has already embarked on expanding CNG stations in response to growing demand and the cost advantages associated with the use of CNG in transport.
She noted that vehicles using CNG including cars and three-wheelers can reduce fuel costs by up to 40 percent compared to conventional fuels, making CNG a cost-effective alternative for the transport sector.
“The Government has demonstrated commitment by increasing investment in CNG infrastructure. This creates an opportunity for the private sector to partner with the Government to accelerate the construction of additional stations,” said Mgalu.
The Committee further recommended the installation of CNG systems in Government vehicles, a measure expected to significantly reduce operational and fuel expenditure.
In addition, the Committee commended the Government, through the Ministry of Energy and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, for ongoing investments in CNG facilities that have enabled approximately 15,000 vehicles to operate using compressed natural gas.
The Committee also praised continued natural gas exploration and development initiatives, noting that adequate gas supply will support improvements in other sectors, including domestic and industrial energy use.
Speaking on behalf of the Government, the Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, said the Government has recorded positive outcomes from the establishment of CNG stations and is therefore accelerating the expansion of services through public-private partnerships.
She cited the recent commissioning of a CNG station operated by Puma Energy in Salasala, which is the largest of its kind in Africa.
She added that in the current financial year, the Government has procured five specialized trucks for transporting compressed natural gas to stations in regions including Dodoma, Morogoro, Arusha, and Tanga, with the aim of ensuring reliable distribution beyond Dar es Salaam.
Regarding the conversion of Government vehicles to CNG, the Deputy Minister explained that implementation is underway, highlighting new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses that operate entirely on CNG, contributing to improved efficiency and service delivery.
The Mlimani CNG Station has the capacity to refuel up to 1,200 vehicles per day and is equipped with three specialized pumps for filling CNG transport vehicles that supply smaller offline CNG stations, as well as institutions, industries, and households.
