Tanzania has discovered an estimated 223 billion cubic feet of natural gas in the Mnazi Bay area in the south of the country, its energy minister announced on Tuesday.
Energy minister Juma Homera said the reserves were found at the Kasa-1X ST2 well, explored jointly by state-owned Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and French oil company Maurel & Prom.
The find is Tanzania's first gas discovery in more than 10 years.
Homera said that TPDC and Maurel & Prom had drilled three wells — MB-5, MS-2 and Kasa-1X ST2 — that would help to boost the country's gas supply.
Maurel & Prom has said that first gas production could start as early as next month.
Homera said TPDC was already in talks with four investors planning small-scale liquefied natural gas projects.
Before the latest announcement, Tanzania's discovered reserves stood at about 57.5 trillion standard cubic feet, according to the energy regulator.
