STATE-RUN Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has paid $23.6 million to double its shareholding in the Mnazi Bay natural gas field under an agreement with French energy company Maurel & Prom. The Mnazi Bay gas field, in the Mtwara region of the country's south, has an estimated 641 billion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas reserves and contributes nearly half of the gas used to generate electricity in the East African country. Mussa Makame, TPDC's managing director, said in a televised signing ceremony on Saturday the company had doubled its ownership in the asset to 40% after acquiring an additional…