Tanzania's CNG Adoption Stalls Due to Filling Station Shortages

While Tanzania is making strides in adopting compressed natural gas (CNG) as an eco-friendly vehicle fuel, limited infrastructure poses significant challenges, leaving many motorists frustrated by the lack of filling stations.

Tanzania's burgeoning revolution in vehicle fuel faces significant setbacks due to a critical lack of filling stations for compressed natural gas (CNG). Following in the footsteps of other African nations like Nigeria, Tanzania is beginning to embrace CNG as an alternative to traditional petrol and diesel fuels. CNG is increasingly recognized as a cleaner and, notably, more affordable option, particularly among the estimated 5,000 early adopters, many of whom are commercial drivers.

The government aims for near-total adoption of CNG by the middle of the century, buoyed by the country's substantial gas reserves found offshore. For those fortunate enough to fill up, CNG can cost less than half the price of petrol, attracting operators like taxi owner Samuel Amos Irube, who converted his three-wheeled vehicle—locally called a bajaji—for a substantial outlay of around 1.5 million Tanzanian shillings ($620; £495). However, Irube now finds himself spending more time queuing at the limited filling stations in Dar es Salaam than driving for profits, with only four available in the commercial hub.

Frustrations echo throughout the long lines at the Ubungo CNG station, as motorists like Medadi Kichungo Ngoma and Sadiki Christian Mkumbuka recount their struggles with lengthy wait times, often exceeding three hours. This situation is in stark contrast to the earlier days of CNG refueling when stations were less congested. Numerous drivers echo the call for more infrastructure to support the burgeoning interest in CNG.

While the shift towards CNG fuels began gaining traction in 2018, the rapid growth in demand seems to have taken the project's managers by surprise. Aristides Kato of the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has acknowledged the need for additional infrastructure to cater for the increasing numbers of gas-using vehicles. Authorities stress the environmental benefits of CNG, which burns cleaner and produces fewer emissions, aligning with global efforts to reduce air pollution.

Despite the current limitations, Amr Aboushady from Taqa Arabia, a company operating one of the few airport filling stations, views the growing interest in CNG as a encouraging sign for Tanzania. Plans are underway for construction of more stations, modeled after successful initiatives in Egypt, where CNG usage has seen widespread acceptance.

To further enhance infrastructure, the TPDC is working on a central "mother station" in Dar es Salaam and acquiring mobile CNG units for various cities. Although these developments may alleviate some pressure in the future, as it stands, the sparse availability of filling stations continues to pose challenges for Tanzania's pioneers in CNG adoption.