Dar es Salaam. Coca-Cola Kwanza Ltd. yesterday called for the government to speed up the construction of the infrastructure for the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations to convince companies to abandon the use of fuel in a wider effort to provide cleaner and more affordable types of energy.
The company yesterday received its first CNG-powered truck, which it had purchased from Scania Tanzania Ltd. to lower emissions and strengthen its sustainable transport system.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the logistics director for Coca-Cola Kwanza, Mr Haji Mzee, said based on their pilot study, the use of natural gas will cut their operational costs by 27 percent on every trip to and from Morogoro.
So far, there are only two filling stations located at Ubungo and Tazara, a trend that, according to Mr Mzee, has sometimes been causing long queues.
In what could be described as a breath of fresh air, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) said four weeks ago that it had issued the green light to 20 companies to construct CNG stations. Mr Mzee said that natural gas-powered trucks are not only more energy efficient and environmentally friendly but also more economical to run. “We use our industry leadership to be part of building a more sustainable future for our planet,” he asserted. “People matter. Our planet matters. Profitability is important, but not at any cost.”
Business development manager for Scania Tanzania, Eliavera Timoth, underscored that Scania was convinced that CNG is a sustainable option for Tanzania that is available here and now.
“By running the transport on CNG, we can use the cleanest drivelines with the lowest emissions, creating cleaner air,” she said. On the global scale, Ms Timoth said, 1 out of 8 deaths is caused by poor air quality, where emissions from transportation are a large contributor.
Describing the benefits of CNG, she said, “CNG is a local fuel, creating local jobs. Today, one of our largest imports is diesel. By running on local fuel, we reduce the foreign exchange.”
Awareness of the benefits of using CNG to power vehicles is gaining momentum in Tanzania, and thus, service providers now find it hard to keep pace with growing demand.
Available numbers show that until August last year, over 1,000 vehicles had already been converted to using CNG.
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Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response
Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025</Strong> — Tanzania has declared a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in the Kagera Region of Northwestern Tanzania. The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba District of Kagera Region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
In response to this urgent threat, the Africa CDC is mobilizing strong support to help Tanzania contain the outbreak. A team of twelve public health experts will be deployed as part of an advance mission in the next 24 hours. The multidisciplinary team includes epidemiologists, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), and laboratory experts to provide on-ground support for surveillance, IPC, diagnostics, and community engagement.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, has engaged with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the response.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management. Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Africa CDC has recently supported efforts to enhance the diagnostic and sequencing capacity of public health laboratories in Tanzania. PCR Test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with additional supplies in the pipeline. To ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, the institution will also provide technical assistance to strengthen detection and genome sequencing for better characterization of the pathogen. Additionally, support will be provided to improve case management protocols and enhance the capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC is committed to working closely with the Government of Tanzania, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.
Source: allafrica.com
