Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is advancing plans to expand its natural gas exports to neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Zambia, as it continues its ambition to become a regional cooking energy powerhouse.
The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) acting managing director, Mr Ahmad Massa, revealed the plans on Friday, September 13, 2024.
He was addressing local journalists during a capacity-building workshop aimed at discussing and increasing their understanding of the state of the oil and gas sectors.
During the event, Mr Massa said Tanzania has signed preliminary agreements with the aforementioned countries for supplying natural gas through pipelines, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and its Mini LNG systems.
“The government has entered into initial agreements with Uganda, Kenya, the DRC, and Zambia for the sale of natural gas. This move positions Tanzania as a major supplier of cooking energy in the region,” said Mr Massa.
The TPDC is actively working on infrastructure developments, including the construction of mini LNG plants in collaboration with companies such as ROSETTA, Africa 50, and KS Energy.
He said that once completed, these plants will enable the efficient transportation of natural gas to neighbouring markets.
Mr Massa emphasised that these efforts will solidify Tanzania’s role as a key player in energy provision across East and Southern Africa at a time when energy demand is surging.
He noted that TPDC’s goal is to leverage natural gas resources to not only support Tanzania’s energy needs but also to help neighbouring countries reduce dependence on external energy suppliers.
“TPDC is also poised to play a pivotal role in Tanzania’s agricultural sector through the production of urea fertiliser,” he said.
TPDC is partnering with the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority (TFRA), which have signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia’s ESSA Group to build a fertiliser plant worth Sh3.5 trillion (approximately $1.4 billion) in the Lindi Region.
“This facility will be a breakthrough for Tanzania’s agricultural industry and position the country as a key supplier of fertiliser in Southern Africa,” said Massa.
TPDC is actively exploring oil and gas fields across the country, noting that the ongoing exploration activities include those in Mnazi Bay, Ruvuma, Songo Songo, and the Eyasi Wembere block, which spans several regions including Arusha, Singida, and Simiyu.
The goal is to increase domestic energy production, both for local consumption and for exports.
Massa affirmed TPDC’s commitment to pushing forward with exploration and production, noting that further discoveries will enhance Tanzania’s energy independence and enable it to supply more energy to the region.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
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