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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Africa: Rwanda Gets a Grip Of Marburg, But Mpox ‘Not Yet Under Control’
Monrovia — The Rwanda Minister of State responsible for Health, Dr. Yvan Butera, cautioned that while the country is beginning to see positive signals in its fight against the Marburg virus, the outbreak is “not yet over”. He, however, expressed hope that “we are headed in that direction”. The minister said the epidemiology trend, since the disease was first discovered in the country more than a month ago, is moving towards fewer cases.
Dr. Butera, who was giving updates during an online briefing yesterday, said in the past two weeks, only two deaths were recorded while 14 people recovered from the disease. He said Rwanda was expanding its testing capacity with 16,000 people already inoculated against the disease.
The priority right now, Butera said, is “rapid testing and detection”.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease transmitted through human-to-human contact or contact with an infected animal. The fatality rate of cases, which has varied over the period, is more than 50%, according to the World Health Organization. WHO said the highest number of new confirmed cases in Rwanda were reported in the first two weeks of the outbreak. There’s been a “sharp decline” in the last few weeks, with the country now tackling over 60 cases.
At Thursday’s briefing, a senior official of the Africa Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, said mpox – the other infectious disease outbreak that countries in the region are fighting – was been reported in 19 countries, with Mauritius being the latest country to confirm a case. He said although no new cases have been recorded in recent weeks in several countries where outbreaks occurred previously – including Cameroon, South Africa, Guinea, and Gabon – Uganda confirmed its first Mpox death. This, he said, is one of two fatalities reported outside Central Africa.
Dr. Ngashi revealed that there was an increase in cases in Liberia and Uganda. He said mpox cases were still on an upward trend.
“The situation is not yet under control.”
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania: Exim to Raise Fund for Mental Health Facilities Upgrades
EXIM Bank to raise 300m/- over the next three years for financing essential services and infrastructure upgrades in mental health facilities.
The bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Stanley Kafu unveiled this when introducing Exim Bima Festival 2024 as a platform for bringing together individuals, organisations and various sectors for raising the funds.
“Exim’s initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, including mental health services,” he said.
The initiative, which is one of the events for celebrating the bank’s 27th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kafu highlights that this year’s festival is not only about raising awareness of the importance of insurance in the society but also focuses on enhancing access to mental health services and improving the overall well-being of the nation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health shows a staggering 82 per cent increase in mental health cases over the past decade.
Mental cases have risen from 386,358 in 2012 to 2,102,726 in 2021, making the need for mental health services more urgent than ever.
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Unfortunately, the country’s ability to address this growing challenge is hindered by a shortage of mental health professionals, infrastructure, medical equipment and essential medication.
For example, out of the 28 regions in the country, only five have facilities that provide adequate mental health services.
The most affected group is the youth aged 15 to 39, who represent the nation’s workforce, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to safeguard this generation for Tanzania’s future well-being and development.
Mr Kafu said by improving mental health services, Exim aims to contribute to the creation of a network of communities that can access care quickly and affordably.
Exim Insurance Department Manager Tike Mwakyoma said they are appreciating the support from partners in the insurance industry, who have stood by them since the last festival.
“Let’s continue this unity for the development of all Tanzanians and our nation as a whole,” the manager said.
Source: allafrica.com
