Mtwara. Ongoing exploration in the Lindi–Mtwara block has revealed promising signs of natural gas deposits, particularly in Mnyundo and Mpapura villages in Mtwara Region, where gas leakage has been observed in local water wells.
The survey, which covers about 736 square kilometres, involves a total of 48 villages, 40 within Mtwara District Council and eight under Mtama District Council.
During his inspection tour of oil and gas projects in the region, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Dr James Mataragio, said preliminary findings suggest a strong likelihood of discovering natural gas in the area.
“Based on the seismic data collected earlier, we have established up to a 32 percent probability of the presence of gas within this block,” he said.
Dr Mataragio noted that the demand for natural gas continues to grow across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, household consumption, and transport, which has prompted the government to intensify exploration and development efforts to meet the objectives of Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050.
As part of his tour, Dr Mataragio also visited the Mnazi Bay gas expansion project, which is currently at 68 percent completion.
The project involves three natural gas wells, with the government aiming to boost production by an additional 45 million standard cubic feet per day from two of the wells, while the third will be used for further exploratory drilling in another section of the block.
He directed the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to ensure all projects are completed within the scheduled timeframe.
For his part, Mtwara Regional Commissioner, Colonel Patrick Sawala, said the natural gas industry has become a major attraction for investors in the region.
He added that the ongoing projects have stimulated a range of economic and social activities, contributing significantly to the local economy.
