SHALE GAS DISCOVERIES AT JIHIRINI, MKINGA DISTRICT, TANGA REGION, TANZANIA

BY GADIOSA LAMTEY

19th May 2015

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation director of research Dr Emma Msaky (2nd-R) inspects Gombero drilling project at Jihirini village in Mkinga District, Tanga Region, yesterday.

There is a very high possibility of discovering shale gas in Mkinga District, Tanga Region, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has said.

It explained that it had conducted a research through what it said was the Professional (MP10) Gombero Project which showed that there was a high 

possibility of discovering gas.

TPDC acting Managing Director, Dr Emma Msaky, told journalists at the project site in Gombero Division on Sunday that the research begun in 2010. He said sediments in Nairobi, Pangarawe and Jirihini villages in the division had high contents of shale gas.

He said there was also a possibility of discovering natural gas or petroleum, explaining: “This project is called MP10 because it started in 2010, aiming to build the capacity of local and young scientists on such kinds of researches. The whole project, financed through TPDC development funds, costs over 300m/- and all the machinery involved is hired from Stamico.” 

He said the project is in three phases which he mentioned as research to identify the area, drilling shallow boreholes of at least 150 metres and drilling deep boreholes.

The project is already in its second phase which involved drilling shallow boreholes for samples to determine the level of shales, he said, noting that the second phase started on Sunday and would be completed in 40 days.

Meanwhile, the Gombero Project Coordinator, Frank Mayagilo, said extraction of shale gas takes a shorter time than that of extracting natural gas. He said the former process takes three years while the latter takes 12 years. The coordinator said extraction of shale gas requires less funds than those required for natural gas.

He gave the example of drilling a single deep borehole for shale gas which costs over 5 million Canadian Dollars in only three years while natural gas takes up to 12 years and costs over USD 100 million.

“Should we discover shale gas, we will create huge employment within a short time, increase government revenues and at the same time increase energy sources– leave alone prompting a decrease in the cost of gas in the market,” he said

For his part, the Jirihini Village Executive Officer, Jumaa Kasidi, hailed the TPDC for establishing the project in the area. He said the discovery of gas would create employment for the youth and women in the area.

The TPDC environment expert, Johannes Kakoki, said before establishing the project they had conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) because the area also had living organs and plants, but the project will not interfere with them.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN