Tanzania Reports First Natural Gas Discovery in a Decade

Tanzania has announced its first natural gas discovery in a decade, with an estimated 223 billion cubic feet found at the Kasa-1X ST2 well in the Mnazi Bay area.

Production from the well is expected to begin early next month. The discovery was described by Energy Minister Juma Homera as a major milestone for Tanzania’s oil and gas sector.

Jointly owned well

The Kasa-1X ST2 well is jointly owned by Tanzania’s state-run Petroleum Development Corporation and French energy company Maurel & Prom. The supplied information does not specify the ownership shares held by either company.

The announcement comes as Tanzania continues to rely heavily on natural gas for electricity generation. Gas currently accounts for nearly 80 percent of the country’s electricity production.

Expected impact on energy supply

The planned start of production is expected to increase gas supplies for households, industry and vehicles. Tanzanian authorities say the discovery will also support more reliable and affordable energy as demand grows.

The volume cited for the discovery is an estimate. No further details were provided on the geological assessment or on the process used to verify the gas reserves.