Become Future Ready… The Urgent Need For Alternative Fuel and Energy in Tanzania and Africa.

Tanzania and Africa are joining the world in the journey towards energy transition or alternative energy.

Look on the road now. We have cars run on natural gas(CNG) vehicles.

Also, we have electric vehicles on the road. Tanzania has the most significant number of electric vehicles than all-electric vehicles in East Africa combined.

I believe vehicles will run on solar cells and ethanol/biofuel in the future.

Furthermore, In Tanzania and Africa, we can only do with the issue of renewable because we have massive potential that we need to harness. We have Solar, Wind, and geothermal. Technology is going towards that sector.

But there are many questions about the future roles of oil and gas entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals.

Entrepreneurs Needed
The popular misconception is that the transformation to alternative fuels will replace the demand for petroleum products(fossil fuels). The simple truth is alternative energy creates more opportunities for people with vision. For example, if you have CNG cars, your most prominent tension is “Where do I refill when I run out of gas.” Because there are fewer CNG stations and electric vehicle charging stations, these infrastructures are only available in some regions.
People who make the most money will build infrastructures such as electric vehicle charging stations and CNG stations.

Another area of growth opportunities is liquefied petroleum gas(LPG).

As a kid, I was told that the energy source was firewood. We used it to cook and do everything.

By the time we got used to firewood, the government announced that gas was now _the_ clean source of cooking energy. It was tough for many Tanzanians to embrace this new source of cooking energy.

Many people in Tanzania feared LPG was highly explosive and could endanger their homes. Also, it was seen as a luxury reserved for the rich.

The beneficiaries’ awareness of the social benefits of using LPG was low. So, the annual consumption of LP gas in Tanzania was only 5,500MT in 2005.

With regular awareness campaigns now, there has been a steady increase in the number of households using LPG.
Today, most people in Tanzania know LPG as a clean and healthy source of domestic cooking energy, and they are moving away from charcoal and firewood.

Tanzania’s annual LP gas consumption has grown from 5,500 metric tonnes in 2005 to 145,800 metric tonnes in 2019. This market is growing so fast.

Exciting future for Oil and Gas Professionals.
When I finished my petroleum geosciences studies, like many oil and gas professionals, my job hunt focused on oil and gas-related jobs. But things have moved fast; now, I see four crucial areas requiring oil and gas professionals.

The first area is solar and winds. With increasing investment in solar and wind projects, there is enormous potential for all oil and gas professionals to assist in analysis and finding suitable locations for solar and wind projects. The second area is geothermal energy. And the third area is in liquefied petroleum gas projects.