Construction of Tanzania pipeline to save $TSh.1bn

The project will furthermore help Tanzania fulfill some of the goals that are stipulated in the Tanzania Development Vision 2025. TPDC is a state-owned firm.

These include the availability of a reliable electric power supply, expansion and increase of the industrial spectrum, cleaner environment, employment creation, extended natural gas usage, availability of clean water and the use of petrochemicals in Tanzania’s industries. Acting TPDC Managing Director James Andilile said the construction work of the pipeline will be completed by the end of next month. This is contrary to earlier predictions by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals that the $1.2 billion project was to be completed by the end of 2014. Latest estimates show the pipeline will be ready by the end of February 2015.

According to Andilile, the major construction works have been completed by 97%, and that the works include Front - end engineering design, hazard operating studies, procurement and distribution of equipment, and big pipelines covering 506 km, which is already installed by 100 per cent. “Similarly, jobs like non - destructive testing, construction of inland gas pipeline, underground installation of pipes across Rufiji River, installation of fibre optic cable across the Rufiji River, laying and fixing of gas pipelines at a distance of 503 km and backfilling and construction of undersea gas pipelines from Somanga Fungu to Songosongo have largely been completed,” he added.

Speaking on the benefits of the project, Andilile said completion of this project will catalyze the increase and expansion of industries which have already indicated dire need of the use of natural gas as energy substitute in running production plants and that reliable power supply will greatly reduce production costs hence allow Tanzanian products become competitive and penetrate the world markets. “The other benefits of completion of this project will promote cleaner production and environmental conservation as a result of the application of natural gas as source of energy to replace charcoal and firewood which have been the major sources of energy although they are the foremost contributors of environmental pollution,” Andilile said.

A report compiled by TPDC indicates that residents who reside where the gas passes would greatly benefit as the pipeline has been installed with gas off-take in Mtwara, Lindi, Kilwa, and Mkuranga towns which will have access to reliable natural gas for use in industries, domestic use, energy for pumping water at a 150m cubic meters per hour of which part of that water supply will be used by the natural refinement plant.

The report further says that the other benefit is that natural gas is habitually used as a raw material in a number of industries including fertilizer, petrochemicals, aluminum, and plastic manufacture which will stimulate the country’s economic growth, and the creation of employment opportunities for Tanzanian youths. The remaining tasks according to the report include; construction of 16 valve stations to connect gas pipelines in Mtwara, Lindi and Mkuranga for industrial and domestic uses, as well as construction of pumping stations at Kinyerezi and Tegeta in Dar es Salaam. The setting of hydrostatic pressure tests and final procurement of equipment is set to be completed this month.