Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have shown interest in financing Tanzania’s gas distribution network, All Africa reported.

The project is expected to take a minimum of 15 months to complete and cost just over $75m, with the development of at least 15 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations. According to the design, the construction of distribution pipelines for households and institutions is expected to be laid in all the districts of Dar es Salaam city, according to ESI Africa.

The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) initiated the project in 2013, but failed to find financing after completing detailed design in 2014. TPDC expects to commence with other procurement process such as securing a contractor as the process of updating design continues.

TPDC’s Senior Petroleum Engineer, Modestus Lumato, said that the major challenge facing the project is poor plan of the city, which has been causing difficulties in identifying areas of construction of the distribution network.