In brief
Motorists eagerly await refueling as the nation embraces natural gas, but long lines at few stations hinder the transition.
Tanzania is moving towards a fuel revolution by adopting compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative to petrol and diesel. Similar to Nigeria, this change is primarily driven by environmental concerns and cost savings, particularly among commercial drivers. Despite large reserves of natural gas, only about 5,000 motorists are currently taking advantage of CNG, with hopes for wider adoption by 2050.However, the lack of filling stations has become a significant roadblock. In Dar es Salaam, for example, there are only four stations, leading to frustrating waits that average three hours for those like taxi owner Samuel Amos Irube, who saves 60% on fuel costs. Even as demand for CNG rises, the infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. Earlier adopters like Medadi Kichungo Ngoma recall much shorter queues before expansion could support the growing number of CNG users.To address this issue, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) is expanding infrastructure with mobile units and a "mother station" in Dar es Salaam that will distribute gas to smaller stations nationwide. The urgency of this initiative becomes clearer amid increasing frustrations from motorists facing long lines at stations, hindering the country’s transition to a cleaner fuel. Despite these challenges, stakeholders remain optimistic about CNG’s future in Tanzania, following the footsteps of other African nations that have successfully integrated natural gas vehicles.
