Dar, Lusaka sign gas pipeline deal
ZAMBIA: TANZANIA and Zambia have signed eight Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in Lusaka that will see the duo cooperating in various areas including the development of natural gas pipeline.
The deals were signed in front of Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her Zambian counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema at the State House in Lusaka
The two neighbouring SADC member states have also agreed to team in defence that will pave the way for the establishment of an exchange programme among cadet officers from both countries.
The two sides also agreed on cooperation on health, trade development and promotion.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan is in Zambia for a three-day state visit.
Her trip to Lusaka was a response to President Hichilema’s invitation.
Tanzania’s Head of State was the guest of honour during Zambia’s 59th Independence anniversary which was held in Lusaka.
After witnessing the signing of the deal, President Samia promised her Zambian counterpart that Dar will further strengthening the existence bilateral relation between the two countries.
“We will continue cherishing and enhancing the existing borne relationship and partnership led by our founding fathers. In the past few years, we were talking on the trade and logistics and challenges but today we have found the solutions. We have seen some mou signed today and we expect more to be signed later,” she said.
On his part, President Hichilema said signed MoU’s should fuel economic growth between economies as well as creating opportunities to young people.
“We would like this MOU’s to yield values so that we can generate revenues to support education, health and other social sectors,” he said.
As of March 2016, the then Ministry of Energy and Minerals confirmed that the discovered natural gas reserves amount to 57.25 trillion standard cubic feet (TCF).
Tanzania has been exploring for natural gas for more than 50 years. The first natural gas discovery in Tanzania was made in 1974 on the Songo Songo Island (Lindi Region) followed by a second discovery at the Mnazi Bay (Mtwara Region) in 1982. The natural gas from Songo Songo was first commercialized in 2004 and the natural gas from Mnazi Bay in 2006. The commercialization of the two discoveries propelled further gas exploration both onshore and offshore.
Four service providers are actively carrying out midstream and downstream natural gas activities. These are The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), Songas Limited, Pan African Energy Tanzania Limited (PAET), and Maurel & Prom (M&P).
Other service providers that are still exploring offshore and onshore are Ophir Energy plc, Shell/BG Group plc (BG), Statoil, ExxonMobil, and Ndovu Resources (Aminex).
