Dar to convert vehicles to natural gas

Tanzania is preparing to start using of locally sourced natural gas in vehicles from next near.

Yona Killagane, managing director of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, said his company together with PanAfrican Energy Tanzania Ltd has embarked on a project to develop the natural gas refuelling infrastructure.

Mr Killagane said gas from the Songo Songo field would be compressed and transported to industrial, commercial and domestic customers, as well as vehicle filling stations.

Already, three vehicles belonging to the corporation and the energy firm have been converted to use natural gas as well as petrol or diesel.

“In early 2009, Dar es Salaam will see the commissioning of its first compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling stations at Ubungo and the TPDC compound in Mikocheni area,” he said.

He said the corporation is seeking investors to own and operate trucks for the delivery of CNG.

According to Mr Killagane, only cars that are less than three years old will be suitable for conversion to use CNG.

The corporation said the winning bidders will work in collaboration with the University of Dar es Salaam’s College of Engineering Technology, the Bureau of Industrial Co-operation, the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology and the Vocational Education and Training Authority to ensure that high standards are maintained.

The collaboration will involve conversion, training, testing and support in the formulation of reference materials, standards and specification.