Power plant start-up signals launch of Tanzania's Songas project

July 21, 2004
Tanzania signaled start-up of its $260 million Songas natural gas-fired power project with the first commercial operation of the 110 Mw Ubungo power station in Dar es Salaam.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, July 21 -- Tanzania signaled start-up of its $260 million Songas natural gas-fired power project with the first commercial operation of the 110 Mw Ubungo power station in Dar es Salaam.

Gas is transported to Tanzania's capital through a 140 mile pipeline from a gas-condensate field onshore and in shallow water adjacent to Songo Songo Island. The wells and a treatment plant are providing gas for 75 Mw of electric power generation, and conversion of the remaining 35 Mw from liquid fuel to gas will be completed in the next 3 months, said international power operator Globeleq.

The plant provides power to Dar es Salaam and the national grid, which extends onto the island.

The Songas pipeline also will supply gas directly to industrial and commercial customers. At the request of Tanzania Electric Supply Co., Songas plans to expand its capacity by 65 Mw later this year.

Songo Songo field, discovered in 1974, is the country's first sustained hydrocarbon production. It appraised out to contain about 1 tcf of gas reserves (OGJ Online, Oct. 23, 2001). A total of nine wells were drilled, and the gas and heavy condensate are in an Albian sandstone at 6,100 ft (OGJ, Oct. 7, 1996, p. 109).

Field operator EastCoast Energy Corp. is being spun off from Pan-Ocean Energy Corp., St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.