UDSM Launches CNG Conversion Workshop to Drive Clean Energy, Innovation and Practical Skills
By Selemani Nambimbi, CMU
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has launched a state-of-the-art Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Workshop, strengthening its capacity to provide practical engineering training, support clean-energy solutions and advance research and innovation in the energy and transport sectors.
Officially inaugurated on Friday, September 25, 2026, the facility was developed in partnership with the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) at a total investment of TZS 1,522,713,857. It is designed to provide vehicle conversion and maintenance services while serving as a practical training and applied research hub for students, technicians and other professionals.
The workshop was formally handed over by TPDC to UDSM on June 5, 2026, following the completion of its construction and installation of equipment. The investment comprises TZS 1,378,223,006 for civil works, TZS 78,352,000 for office furniture and TZS 66,138,852 for specialised tools and workshop equipment.
Officiating the ceremony, UDSM Council Chairperson Ambassador Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar described the facility as an important investment in strengthening local technical capacity at a time when energy security has become increasingly important globally.
She said geopolitical developments and disruptions in energy markets and supply chains had reinforced the need for countries to strengthen their domestic capacity to utilise available energy resources and develop the expertise required to support emerging technologies.
“In the current global environment, particularly given geopolitical tensions affecting energy markets and supply chains, energy security has become increasingly vital. This facility plays a key role in building local expertise and capacity in CNG technology, thereby contributing to national efforts to expand energy resource utilisation and ensure energy security,” Ambassador Maajar said.
She challenged UDSM management to ensure that the facility is operated efficiently, maintained to high standards and supported by strong safety and governance systems.
“For the Council, today’s launch marks the beginning of another crucial phase: managing, utilising and protecting this investment responsibly. In the days ahead, we wish to see this workshop function not merely as a completed and launched project, but as a well-utilised University asset delivering expected results,” she said.
Linking university knowledge with practical solutions
Speaking on behalf of UDSM Vice-Chancellor Professor William A. L. Anangisye, Deputy Vice-Chancellor–Academic Professor Rose Upor said the workshop demonstrated the University’s commitment to connecting academic knowledge with practical solutions to national development challenges.
She said the facility would strengthen the University’s ability to translate teaching and research into technologies, skills and services that respond to real-world needs.
“For the University, an investment of this nature is of great importance because it gives us the opportunity to closely link academia with practical application in real-world environments. The role of a university goes beyond teaching and research; it includes applying existing expertise to find solutions, develop technology and contribute to societal needs,” Prof. Upor said.
She noted that the facility contributes to the implementation of UDSM Vision 2061 and the UDSM Strategic Plan 2024–2033, while also supporting the national development priorities articulated in Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, particularly the emphasis on science, technology, innovation and local capacity during the energy transition.
Prof. Upor also commended TPDC for its partnership with UDSM, describing the collaboration as a foundation for further academic, technical and professional cooperation.
“We express our sincere gratitude to the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation for their partnership and significant contribution. We view this collaboration not as the end of a project, but as the foundation for building long-term academic and professional relationships,” she said.
From vehicle conversion to training and research
Giving an overview of the facility, UDSM Deputy Vice-Chancellor–Planning, Finance and Administration Professor Bernadetha Killian said the workshop had been established as a multi-purpose technical facility bringing together professional services, practical training, research, innovation and knowledge application.
“This workshop is a specialised technical infrastructure designed to integrate professional services, practical training, research, innovation and knowledge application within the energy and transport sectors,” Prof. Killian said.
She explained that the facility has three principal functions: providing professional services for converting petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles to CNG, including inspection and maintenance; serving as a practical training centre for engineering students and technicians; and providing a platform for research and technological development.
The facility’s scope is also expected to expand beyond vehicle conversion. Prof. Killian said the University’s longer-term plans include exploring the conversion of industrial diesel generators to operate on natural gas, as well as opportunities for hybrid energy applications.
The workshop therefore provides a platform through which students can gain hands-on experience with technologies that are increasingly relevant to Tanzania’s evolving energy and transport landscape.
A partnership built on practical skills
The CNG training centre was established jointly by TPDC and UDSM under a land lease agreement signed in August 2022, with the objective of providing practical CNG conversion training to engineering students and strengthening technical capacity in the sector.
Speaking on behalf of the TPDC Director General, CNG Station Supervisor Engineer Daud Ngole commended UDSM for its cooperation with the corporation and reaffirmed the importance of the facility in developing practical skills.
“We appreciate UDSM for its cooperation with TPDC. This workshop will provide engineering students with practical skills in CNG conversion,” Eng. Ngole said.
The launch marks another step in UDSM’s efforts to strengthen the connection between higher education, industry and national development.
By combining professional services with hands-on training, research and innovation, the CNG Conversion Workshop is expected to provide students and professionals with practical experience while contributing to the wider adoption and effective utilisation of cleaner energy technologies.
The facility also positions UDSM to play a greater role in developing locally relevant solutions for the energy and transport sectors, reinforcing the University’s commitment to using knowledge, innovation and technology to address Tanzania’s development needs.