The B5 well in the Mnazi Bay Block in Mtwara Region has recorded natural gas production more than twice the initial expectations, a development that is strengthening confidence in Tanzania’s upstream petroleum sector and its long-term energy outlook.
The breakthrough was announced on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, by the Head of Local Content and Stakeholder Engagement at the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA), Charles Nyangi, while briefing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy responsible for Oil and Natural Gas during the ongoing Energy Week exhibition at the National Assembly grounds in Dodoma.
Nyangi said technical results from the completed B5 well show a significant increase in output compared to early projections, highlighting improved prospects within the Mnazi Bay Block.
“The initial expectation was to obtain about 20 million cubic feet, but the well is producing 45 million cubic feet. We are clearly in a much stronger position than anticipated,” Nyangi said.
He said the outcome reflects Tanzania’s growing potential in natural gas exploration and signals encouraging prospects for future investments in the sector.
According to PURA, drilling activities in the area are continuing, with a second well currently under development.
Nyangi said that as of Tuesday morning, drilling had reached a depth of about 1,500 metres, with further exploration ongoing to assess additional gas potential.
He added that early indications from the second well are also promising, raising hopes of discovering more commercially viable reserves in the block.
“The second well is progressing well, and exploration is continuing. There is strong optimism that more gas resources will be discovered,” he said.
Nyangi further noted that the government, in collaboration with sector stakeholders, is continuing to prioritize investment in exploration and production activities aimed at increasing natural gas output.
He said the positive results from Mnazi Bay align with national efforts to enhance energy security and ensure natural gas contributes more effectively to industrial growth, electricity generation, and domestic energy supply.
The Mnazi Bay Block remains one of Tanzania’s key gas-producing areas, and the latest results are seen as a strong indicator of the country’s expanding role in the regional energy sector.
