PRESIDENT John Magufuli has directed the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to fast-track the construction of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Lindi Region to cost 30 billion US dollars (65 trillion/-).
“I want to see this project taking off,
there have been a lot of unnecessary delays…just accomplish whatever is
creating any bureaucracy so that our investors can begin the work with
immediate effect,’’ he said.
The president was speaking at the State
House in Dar es Salaam yesterday after receiving a progress report on
the multi-trillion grand project for construction of Liquefied Natural
Gas (LNG) plant at Likong’o area in Lindi Region.
The report was presented by an official
of the Norwegian Company, Statoil Country Representative, Mr Oystein
Michelsen, who insisted that after completion of the construction of the
envisaged gas plant, production would continue for a period of not less
than 40 years.
“The Norwegian government is fully
committed to ensuring that implementation of the project is done for the
benefits of our two countries and I request that the Tanzanian
government continue giving us its full support so that we achieve in
putting up the plant,’’ said Mr Michelsen.
Lately, the country discovered an
additional 2.17 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of possible natural gas
deposits, raising the east African nation’s total estimated natural gas
reserves to more than 57 tcf.
Most of the gas discoveries in Tanzania
were made in deep-sea offshore blocks south of the country near the site
of a planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant.
Earlier this month, the Minister for
Energy and Minerals, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, revealed that the
government had already embarked on the grand plan, adding that Lindi
residents and Tanzanians in general should expect economic revolution in
few years to come.
Prof Muhongo was speaking during the official launch of the Nanenane exhibitions at Ngongo Grounds in Lindi Municipality.
“I would like to ensure Lindi residents
and Tanzanians in general that our economy is going to grow at a high
speed; we are going to invest at least 30bn/- US dollars in the
construction of a gas processing plant,” he said.
However, the minister asked the public
to remain calm as the government continues to set plans for the grand
project. He observed that the project was likely to take many years
because it needs huge amount of money, high skilled and experienced
personnel as well as good supervision.
Prof Muhongo said the government would
be required to construct about 200 kilometres of gas pipes from the sea
to the plant. He remarked: “This is not an easy job; it will take some
years.
We are supposed to bring the gas from
the sea. It is between 100 and 200 kilometres.’’ At the State House
yesterday, Dr Magufuli assured the Statoil country representative that
the Tanzanian government was committed to make sure that the project was
successful.
He said the project would create many
employment opportunities to Tanzanians as well as enabling the
government to collect revenue through various forms of taxes that will
help in strengthening provision of social services including education,
health, water and infrastructure, among others.
Apart from Statoil, other companies that
will invest in this project include Shell, Exxon, Mobil, Pavillion and
Ophir, according to a statement from the Presidential Communications
Unit.
Source:
http://dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-news/52907-state-urges-speed-on-lng-plant
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