DODOMA — THE government has assured the public that it is taking affirmative action to ensure the country's natural gas benefits Tanzanians and contributes significantly to the nation's economic growth.
Responding to the question, the deputy minister said the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation , in collaboration with TAQA Dalbit company, is carrying out research of natural gas demand, including identifying routes where pipelines can be laid to supply gas to the houses in Dar es Salaam. However, the deputy minister said TPDC continues with the implementation of various natural gas supply projects in Dar es Salaam.
The deputy minister further said TPDC has laid a 12.4-Kilometre gas pipeline from Mwenge to Mbezi in Dar es Salaam along Bagamoyo Road, with outlets to allow more houses to be connected to it. Special Seat MP Esther Matiko, on her part, sought an opinion from the government on the possibility of considering introducing subsidies for gas to help rural communities, given the fact that the majority cannot afford its price.
Dr Samia expounded that such a portion of wooden biomass energy use has been culminating in deforestation amounting to 3.9 million hectares of forest in Africa between 2010 and 2020, a situation that retards the continent's efforts on cutting carbon emission .