Tanzania has announced a significant natural gas discovery in the Mnazi Bay area, marking the country’s first major find in more than ten years and signaling renewed momentum in its efforts to develop domestic energy resources.
Energy Minister Juma Homera confirmed on Tuesday that an estimated 223 billion cubic feet (approximately 6.3 billion cubic meters) of natural gas was found at the Kasa-1X ST2 well. The discovery was made jointly by the state-owned Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and French oil company Maurel & Prom.
Speaking at a ceremony at the well site, Homera described the find as a “major milestone” for the East African nation’s energy sector. “The discovery is important in ensuring the country has reliable, clean and safe energy at affordable costs, particularly at a time when demand is increasing due to industrial growth and other economic activities,” Homera said.
The new well is expected to begin production as early as next month. According to Maurel & Prom, the Kasa-1X discovery has a production potential of approximately 1.4 million cubic meters per day.
The well was drilled from onshore to a target approximately 4.5 kilometers offshore beneath 400 meters of water, with a horizontal sidetrack intersecting 588 meters of reservoir.
The discovery follows the drilling of two development wells, MB-5 and MS-2, earlier in 2026. Those wells have already been brought on stream, helping to increase current Mnazi Bay production to approximately 3.7 million cubic meters per day.
Tanzania’s natural gas journey began in 1974 with the first discovery on Songo Songo Island in the Lindi region, followed by a second find at Mnazi Bay in 1982. Commercialization began in 2004, propelling further exploration both onshore and offshore. The largest single discovery – 2.7 trillion cubic feet – was made in 2016.
Before this week’s announcement, Tanzania’s proven and discovered natural gas reserves stood at approximately 57.5 trillion standard cubic feet. Natural gas accounts for nearly 80% of the country’s electricity generation, according to 2024 government statistics.
The discovery comes as Tanzania pushes forward with plans for a $42 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project, one of East Africa’s largest proposed energy developments. Led by Shell and Equinor with partners including ExxonMobil, the project aims to unlock offshore reserves and position Tanzania as a regional energy hub.
Homera also revealed that TPDC is in talks with four investors interested in developing small-scale LNG projects, signaling efforts to broaden commercial use of the country’s gas resources.
In recent years, Tanzania has encouraged the use of compressed natural gas to power vehicles, with filling stations set up mostly in Dar es Salaam. Some Tanzanians have converted their vehicles to dual-fuel systems, taking advantage of locally available natural gas to reduce fuel costs.
