News

By Dotto Kuhenga, Communication and Information Office,

The University of Dar es Salaam has announced remarkable exploration findings that present assurance of the availability of commercially-viable carbon dioxide content at Suma ward at Rungwe District in Mbeya Region in Tanzania.

The announcement, which was made in Dar es Salaam on 8 July this year, comes after a two-month exploration exercise that was conducted by the experts from the University of Dar es Salaam School of Mines and Geosciences (SoMG).

This exploration exercise, which was commissioned by Simba Gas, a Tanzanian company specialized in Natural Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extraction, has presented results that call for this gas extraction due to its growing demand and market both locally and internationally.

Speaking during the event to receive the exploration report, the Simba Group of Companies Executive Director, Mr. David Ndelwa said the demand for carbon dioxide in the local market stands at 1,060 tonnes per week.

“We have a deficit of 360 tonnes per week; and the potential export market for carbon dioxide currently stands at 2,000 tonnes where the deficit is 1,460 tonnes”, said Mr. Ndelwa.

He further said it is estimated that to-date, the global carbon dioxide market is worth $10.36 billion, and thus his company was well prepared to invest massively to ensure that the country gets enough of the resource to meet the internal and external markets.

Gracing the event, the Mbeya Regional Commissioner Hon. Juma Homera said the government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, is working hard to improve the business environment and attract investors in energy and manufacturing sectors.

He congratulated the University of Dar es Salaam for such a remarkable research, and   commended Simba Gas for taking the initiatives and having the courage to invest in Mbeya Region noting that by doing so, “the company is taking the lead to support the government development plans”.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam Professor William Anangisye  said the exploration conducted and many others as public service were testimonies of the contribution by the experts from the University of Dar es Salaam and other higher learning institutions in economic and development activities.

“The University of Dar es Salaam through its different units such as the School of Mines and Geosciences (SoMG) is always ready to offer research and consultancy services locally and globally. We urge all stakeholders and Tanzanians in general to use this valuable human resource from UDSM for amplifying their projects in highly and internationally recognized standards”, said Prof. Anangisye.

Present also at the occasion were the SoMG Dean, Dr. Elisante Mshiu, the Vice Chairperson of the Energy and Minerals Parliamentary Committee, Hon. Mariam Ditopile,  the Rungwe District Commissioner Dr. Vicent Anney, the chairperson of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation as well as the East African Business Council  Angelina Ngalula and other dignitaries from the public and private sectors.