Thursday, October 17, 2013

Gas Exploration In Mtwara


Tanzania is about to become one of the major  Gas Producers in the world with an expectations of   transforming  national economy. The discoveries of Natural gas and oil  in Mtwara has attracted many foreign companies which are working now to explore gas in Mtwara and Lindi. According to Tanzania Petrolium development cooperation TPDC there are 8 firms from UK,Brazil and Norway conducting a deep sea explorations for oil and gas in Mtwara.

On 21st July this year Tanzania signed a contract with three chinese companies to start a construction of a pipeline From Mtwara to Dar es salaam.  China Petroleum Technology Development Corporation, Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Bureau and China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corporation have been awarded the contract to set up the pipeline. This construction will cost a total of US $ 1.2 bill. and will be funded by China. The project which was inugurated in 2012 involves a 532 km pipeline from Mnazibay in Mtwara to songosongo in Kilwa district then to Dar es salaam.

The pipeline will have a capacity of 784 cubic feet of gas per day which is capable of generating 3920 MW which will be a great advantage to a Tanzania current demand .

What could be the Benefits?

It is said that Natural gas can provide 35% of the country electicity and on its completion this project will benefits people of Mtwara and Lindi in supplying reliable electricity and large number of population in Tanzania  but to be used in other sectors as explained here. Since 2006 Tanzania has been experiancing power rationing so with this project to some extent it can solve the problem.

The construction of the natural gas pipeline, also is said to be a low cost gas power generation that will be passed on to industrial and other users, putting Tanzania an attractive place to invest.

The whole process of gas oil takes time to realise the revenue.It is the investment that passes through different process. In recent years the processing of natural gas has been transfomed due to some advance in technolgy.Exploration for natural gas starts  with geologists examining the surface structure of the earth, and determining areas where it is geologically likely that petroleum or gas  might exist.  Gas and oil exploration needs investment in infrastructure.
 
Despite of having many advantages this project , is facing obstacles from the residents of Mtwara who seems they are not happy with what their government is trying to bring to them. They argue that for many years Mtwara and other sourthen regions of Tanzania has been neglegeted and that they have been least developed. In what it seems as a challenge to the project is when residents of Mtwara held a mass public rally to protest government"s plans to install  a pipeline to transport a gas from Mtwara to Dar es salaam Power plant.

During recent  demonstrations ,people of Mtwara insisted that the so  found gas should remain in their town  and not to be  transferred to Dar es salaam and that it should be used to utilize local developments. But the government decision is  that  the pipeline will be constructed. The goverment deployed Peoples Defence Forces to crack down protesters in May this years. death and injuries was reported.

But What went wrong?

With all violance and voices from people , it seems to be a problem somewhere. One It might be true that residents of Mtwara  are being  misled by some politicians because a gas pipeline will help the national economy and benefits all Tanzanians. Tanzanian natural resources is for all Tanzanian not a certain place where its only found.

Minister responsible for Energy and Minerals Prof. Sospeter Muhongo said the gas issue is being politicised and Tanzanians should avoid engaging politics into serious matters of national interest because it leads a country into chaos.

But these allegations are being denied by Mtwara politicians who formed an alliance to coordinate demonstration against governments plan.They are also blaming the goverment of being blind not to see the needs of people. Mr. Seleman Litope who is a secretary of an alliance of eight political parties in Mtwara said that its a funny thing what is used by the regional government to deal with a situation.

From what it seems the situation in Mtwara its not about the gas pipeline rather people are tired of promiseless that they need a place to show their anger , extremly poverty despite of being rich in natural resources.
Well president Jakaya Kikwete said  that 16% of the gas extracted in Mtwara would go to Dar es Salaam, with the remaining to stay in Mtwara for various uses, including for export by sea.

Other efforts of government to improve Mtwara includes , expanding  ports, fertiliser and cement factories, road improvements, a gas processing plant, and several educational programmes.

All the above need people involvemet so civic education should be emphasised in order to avoid people misunderstaning when it comes to project implementation.














1 comment:

  1. Hi
    Is it possible to take a short interview from the author of this article, I am writing academic research on Chinese approach to CSR in energy in Tanzania. email: izaslavskiy[at]chathamhouse.org
    Ilya

    ReplyDelete