(Ecofin Agency) - Tanzania and a consortium of oil majors, have revealed plan to invest $30 billion in the construction of a gas processing plant that will lead to an economic revolution.
According to the country’s Energy Minister, Sospeter Muhongo, the government had already commenced the first phase of work and Tanzanians should expect swift growth in a few years.

Tanzania’s Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) will develop this project which is expected to last for about 3 years and 4 months. The company will carry out the operation together with a consortium of oil companies including BG Group, Statoil, Exxon Mobil and Ophir Energy.
“The project is likely to take many years because it needed huge amounts of money, high skilled and experienced personnel as well as good supervision. I can tell you today that in the few coming years, Lindi and Mtwara will be the country’s economic hub. All investors are eying them because of gas and other resources,” Muhongo said.

TPDC’s Principal Petroleum Engineer, Modestus Lumato, has said that the environmental impact assessment for the project is scheduled to begin soon and would be performed alongside the formulation of a Development Report Induction Plan.
This plant will be constructed in the south-eastern Lindi administrative region as most of Tanzania’s gas reserves are situated in deep sea fields off its coast. 

The country has estimated reserves of 1.6 trillion cubic metres, putting it in the 22nd position in the world rankings, between Egypt and Libya.

Aside the gas plant, the government is also planning a $1.9bn fertilizer plant, purification and liquefaction plant, and about 200km of gas pipes, Global Construction Review reports.

Anita Fatunji