By Business Insider Correspondent
For the first time in its history, the Port of Mtwara is preparing to receive heavy-duty drilling equipment and advanced machinery for a major natural gas development project, a milestone that underscores the port’s growing strategic role in Tanzania’s energy and logistics landscape.
The development follows a recent inspection visit by senior executives and technical teams from ARA Petroleum Tanzania, who toured the port to assess its readiness to handle oversized and high-tonnage cargo destined for the Nanguruwe gas project in Mtwara Region.
The company expects the first consignments to begin arriving from August 2026, with each vessel carrying more than 1,000 tonnes of specialised gas drilling equipment.
Speaking after the visit, Mr. Hilal Al Hinai, General Manager of ARA Petroleum Tanzania, said the inspection was aimed at evaluating port infrastructure, handling equipment and operational efficiency in managing heavy and project cargo.
“We conducted this visit to satisfy ourselves that the Port of Mtwara has the capacity to handle large consignments of gas drilling equipment. We are encouraged by the infrastructure and the level of preparedness we have seen,” Mr. Al Hinai said.
A strategic boost for Mtwara Port
Port officials view the planned arrival of gas equipment as a turning point for Mtwara, which has historically handled modest cargo volumes compared with Dar es Salaam or Tanga.
Representing the Port Manager, Mr. Faraji Mbulalina, Head of Marketing at Mtwara Port, said the facility is ready to support large-scale strategic investments and invited more investors to route their cargo through the southern corridor.
“The Port of Mtwara has undergone significant improvements. We now offer competitive port tariffs, enabling infrastructure, modern cargo-handling equipment and a skilled workforce. This positions Mtwara as a viable and efficient gateway for major industrial and extractive projects,” Mr Mbulalina said.
Recent upgrades at the port form part of the government’s broader agenda to decongest Dar es Salaam Port and unlock the economic potential of southern Tanzania. Improved road links, proximity to gas fields, and access to regional markets in Mozambique and Malawi further enhance Mtwara’s attractiveness for energy and mining logistics.
Anchoring next phase of gas development
ARA Petroleum Tanzania is an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on developing natural gas resources in Ntorya, southern Mtwara, under the Ruvuma Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). The company is a subsidiary of ARA Petroleum of Oman, established to oversee the appraisal and development of gas discoveries made in the Ntorya area.
The Ntorya gas project is widely seen as one of Tanzania’s most advanced onshore gas developments outside the long-established Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay fields. Once brought into production, Ntorya is expected to significantly boost domestic gas supply, supporting electricity generation, industrial expansion and the government’s drive to reduce reliance on imported fuels.
Industry analysts note that the mobilisation of drilling rigs and heavy equipment via Mtwara Port signals a transition from appraisal to full-scale development, a phase that typically brings higher capital spending, local procurement opportunities and job creation.
Wider economic implications
Beyond energy security, the project is expected to have spillover benefits for the regional economy. Increased port activity could stimulate demand for logistics services, warehousing, transport and auxiliary businesses, while gas production would strengthen feedstock supply for fertiliser, cement and manufacturing industries.
For Mtwara Region, long positioned as a frontier area despite its resource wealth, the use of its port as a logistics hub for gas development represents a tangible step towards inclusive regional growth. In short, the anticipated arrival of gas drilling equipment through the Port of Mtwara marks more than a logistical operation. It is a signal of growing investor confidence, rising strategic importance of southern Tanzania, and a key preparatory step towards the next chapter of the country’s natural gas production and industrialisation agenda.
