http://thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=11290Songo Songo gas...

http://thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=11290

Songo Songo gas production to double
By Zephania Ubwani, Mombasa

Natural gas production at Songo Songo in Lindi will be doubled to meet the growing demand of gas for electricity generation and for vehicles.

Production of gas from five out of 11 wells at Songo Songo is currently at the rate of 70 million standard cubic metres per feet per day (70mmscf/d) but processing facilities are inadequate.

Plans are underway to expand the processing capacity to 140 mmscf/d so that more gas could be shipped to Dar es Salaam for additional power generation, compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles, industries and domestic use.

The plans are contained in a report by Tanzania to the 4th East African Petroleum Conference which ended at a Mombasa beach resort late yesterday.

Officials from Tanzania to the three-day conference were led by the minister foe Energy and Minerals, Mr William Ngeleja.
The offshore Songo Songo natural gas fields were discovered in 1974 and gas production started in July 2004.

According to Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, in order to double gas production at Songo Songo, more wells have to be drilled to the north and west of the island to increase reserves for the growing multiple use of natural gas.

Gas production at the Mnazi Bay in Mtwara region is currently estimated at 0.9 million standard cubic feet per day and is used for generating 4.5 megawatts of electricity for Mtwara and Lindi.

Engineer Joyce Kisamo told the conference organised by the East African Community secretariat that natural gas was ideal as a source of energy in urban areas because it is environmental friendly.

According to her, Tanzania currently has four gas sites at Songo Songo (1974), Mnazi Bay ( 1982), Mkuranga (2007) and Nyuni (2008).

More gas fields are likely to be discovered given the production sharing agreements the Government has signed with more than 20 oil and gas exploration companies.

Eng. Kisamo said the Government's long term plans were to use natural gas for electricity generation and for cooking.

Gas produced in the country generates approximately 50 per cent of the country's electricity.