Gas
Tanzania secures first gas find in over a decade
Tanzania has announced its first natural gas discovery in more than ten years, boosting national supply plans and broader export ambitions.
Key points
- Energy Minister Juma Homera announced the discovery at the Kasa-1X ST2 well.
- The exploration project is a partnership between the state petroleum firm and France's Maurel & Prom.
- Production from the recent find could commence as early as next month.
What happened
Tanzania has uncovered new natural gas reserves at the Kasa-1X ST2 well, marking the country's first significant find in over ten years. According to Business Insider Africa, Energy Minister Juma Homera confirmed the discovery, which stems from a joint exploration campaign conducted by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation and French operator Maurel & Prom.
The drilling programme involved three specific locations, namely MB-5, MS-2, and the successful Kasa-1X ST2 well. Officials anticipate that these efforts will bolster domestic fuel availability for industrial operations and power generation. Maurel & Prom suggested that extraction from the latest site could begin as early as next month.
Alongside this discovery, the energy ministry is holding discussions with four prospective investors regarding small-scale liquefied natural gas initiatives. These moves form part of a wider strategy to monetise the nation's hydrocarbon resources, which stood at approximately 57.5 trillion standard cubic feet prior to this latest announcement, per Reuters reporting.
Parallel to these domestic supply efforts, progress continues on a proposed $42 billion liquefied natural gas export terminal. Backed by international firms including Equinor and Shell, this larger venture aims to tap into 47.13 trillion cubic feet of reserves. Furthermore, regional integration is advancing as Uganda prepares to route its initial oil shipments through the Tanzanian port of Tanga by early 2027.
Why it matters
For investors and policymakers across the continent, Tanzania's latest hydrocarbon milestone illustrates the enduring attractiveness of East Africa's sedimentary basins. Domestic energy availability remains a critical constraint for regional industrialisation. According to World Bank figures from 2024, Tanzania's electricity consumption stands at 171.4 kilowatt-hours per person, significantly below the global average of 3708.5 kilowatt-hours. Furthermore, only 52.4 percent of the Tanzanian population had access to electricity in 2024, compared to a global rate of 91.9 percent, while clean cooking access stood at a mere 11 percent.
Expanding domestic gas utilisation can help address these structural deficits by feeding local power plants and reducing reliance on traditional biomass. For international energy companies, the combination of mid-scale domestic supply projects and mega-scale export terminals demonstrates a flexible regulatory approach. As African nations seek to balance export revenues with local energy security, Tanzania's collaborative model offers a pathway for monetising stranded gas resources while strengthening regional transport infrastructure.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
49.1% of electricity in Tanzania came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
