Tanzania Unveils Plan for Cross-Border Gas Pipeline
Tanzania has announced plans to build a cross-border natural gas pipeline supplying both Uganda and Kenya, according to Charles Sangweni, Director General of Tanzania's Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA). This move positions Tanzania as a long-term regional gas supplier rather than solely an exporter of liquefied natural gas to overseas markets.
The government has not released technical details such as the pipeline's capacity, route, financing, or expected construction timeline. However, this announcement is part of a broader strategy that has been unfolding across East Africa for several years. Tanzania and Uganda are already partners on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, which carries crude rather than gas.
Natural gas can provide a more stable fuel source than diesel or heavy fuel oil for power generation and industrial process heat. Fertilizer production, cement manufacturing, and mining operations across Uganda and Kenya have both seen rising industrial demand alongside expanding electricity needs, making reliable gas supply an increasingly important input to long-term energy planning in both countries.
The proposed pipeline remains at an early stage, requiring feasibility studies, commercial agreements, environmental reviews, and financing arrangements before construction can begin. For companies evaluating manufacturing or mining investments in East Africa, the announcement is a signal to watch rather than a firm timeline to plan around.