The decision by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to establish a gas distribution network for domestic and automobile use in Dar es Salaam deserves accolades and support. This is a step in the right direction in diversifying Tanzania's fuel sources and curbing deforestation.

Tanzanians have for generations depended on wood-based fuel for domestic use. This means that thousands of hectares of forests are cleared every year to provide fuel for domestic consumption.

According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the annual deforestation rate in Tanzania is a staggering 4,200 square kilometres. About 70 per cent of the deforestation results from the felling of trees to obtain fuel, according to the Centre for Energy, Environment, Science and Technology (Ceest). Dar es Salaam alone consumes 500,000 tonnes of charcoal annually.

Experts estimate that Tanzania's entire forest cover will disappear in about a century, and it is for this reason that we think the TPDC project has come at the right time.

The country will have taken a big step in reversing deforestation and curbing pollution of the goal of distributing natural gas to 25,000 families in Dar es Salaam and putting in the road 7,000 cars running on compressed natural gas is realised. The use of natural gas to power vehicles will also save this country billions of shillings in foreign currency that is used to import petroleum products annually.

It is unfortunate that implementation of the project has been delayed owing to various snags. We hope that TPDC has addressed all problems that have been stalling the project.

With natural gas reserves estimated at around two trillion cubic feet, Tanzania has the potential to have natural gas as its main source of fuel in the near future.

The government should chip in and invest in the commercialisation of natural gas instead of waiting for foreign investors.