Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister, Mr. Bernard K. Membe briefs UK Foreign Affairs Minister for Africa Issues, Mr. Henry Bellingham (second left) and Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Erik Lahnstein (third right) on the development of natural gas projects in Mtwara Region over the weekend. Others in the picture are the Mtwara District Commissioner, Mr. Elaston Mbwilo (right) and a senior UK official.
Minister for the Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mr. Bernard K. Membe, shaking hands with the UK Foreign Affairs Minister for Africa, Mr. Henry Bellingham (center), and standing (right) is the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Erik Lahnstein.
Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister, Mr. Bernard K. Membe (3rd-R) listens during his tour of Mtwara Region on Friday as British Gas and HSE advisor, John Campbell speaks on the company’s exploration procedures. Others are British Foreign Affairs Minister for Africa, Mr. Henry Bellingham (2nd-R), Norwegian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Erik Lahnstein (4th-R) and British High Commissioner Diane Corner (R).
Minister for the Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mr. Bernard K. Membe (Center-R) listening to Mr. Alan Nicol, Supervisor for Baker Hughes Company explaining how the mud plant operates prior to drilling operation. Others in the picture are the Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Erik Lahnstein (3rd-R) and Mr. John Campbell, British Gas HSE Advisor (1st-R), Mtwara District Commissioner, Mr. Elaston Mbwilo (1st-L), the UK Foreign Minister for African Countries’ Issues, Mr. Henry Bellingham (2nd-R) and the Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Tanzania, Ms. Diane Corner (4th-L).Photos and Story by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) has said that Tanzania has the potential to produce the best world class gas energy with the value equivalent to that of oil market revenue.
Mr. Membe said this last Friday on a one-day tour in Mtwara Region together with the United Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in African Countries’ issues, Mr. Henry Bellingham, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Norway, Mr. Erik Lahnstein.
Mr. Membe said this last Friday on a one-day tour in Mtwara Region together with the United Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in African Countries’ issues, Mr. Henry Bellingham, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Norway, Mr. Erik Lahnstein.
Mr. Membe explained that the initial gas exploration in Mtwara Region was conducted by various companies from the UK, Norway and Brazil whereas the initial results showed presence of gas energy resource that can be exploited for commercial purposes.
“The exploitation of gas in Mtwara Region has not yet started, what has so far taken place is exploration of gas through drilling in order to establish the quantity of gas before exploitation,” explained Mr. Membe.
Following the exploitation process, Mr. Membe said the Mtwara Port will have to undergo expansion and improvement to be able to cater for the needs of gas exploitation companies and outbound trade.
On his Mtwara tour, Mr. Membe was accompanied by the Tanzanian Ambassador in the United Kingdom, Mr. Peter Kallaghe, Norwegian Ambassador in Tanzania, Ms. Ingunn Klepvisk and Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Tanzania, Ms. Diane Corner.
The gas drilling project has been conducted by BG Company and Ophir Energy PLC, the Africa-focused upstream oil gas company.
“These are reputable and world class companies in the United Kingdom,” said Mr. Bellingham, the UK Foreign Minister.
He said that the projects have been strategically well researched and that the gas found in Mtwara Region can potentially be resourceful throughout the nation and significantly profitable when trading worldwide.
“These are reputable and world class companies in the United Kingdom,” said Mr. Bellingham, the UK Foreign Minister.
He said that the projects have been strategically well researched and that the gas found in Mtwara Region can potentially be resourceful throughout the nation and significantly profitable when trading worldwide.
For his part, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway, Mr. Lahnstein said that his government will continue the effort in strengthening its bilateral relationship with government of Tanzania.
“We are committed in not only bringing experts who are specialized in drilling, but also educating and training local people in this field,” he said.
“We are committed in not only bringing experts who are specialized in drilling, but also educating and training local people in this field,” he said.
Mr. Lahnstein talked about the challenge most nations face in combatting with the piracy issue in the Indian Ocean, saying his government sees the piracy issue as a concern and sought the collaboration of Tanzania government in an effort to combating the criminal activities.
“The great concern is the ‘catch and release’ of pirates and lack of better prosecution,” he said.
Mr. Membe responded by saying that the piracy issue was a priority agenda. “The Tanzania government stands firm in its fight against the piracy criminal activities. We want them to be prosecuted fully when caught because they are criminals and should not be treated lightly,” said Mr. Membe.
“The great concern is the ‘catch and release’ of pirates and lack of better prosecution,” he said.
Mr. Membe responded by saying that the piracy issue was a priority agenda. “The Tanzania government stands firm in its fight against the piracy criminal activities. We want them to be prosecuted fully when caught because they are criminals and should not be treated lightly,” said Mr. Membe.
Tulitegemea kuanza kwa uzalishaji wa gesi ya Songosongo kungetupunguzia makali ya bei na mgao wa umeme, hali kadhalika bei za bidhaa! Lakini uzalishaji ulipoanza, bei ziliendelea kupaa kama kawaida, na magao wa umeme ndiyo kama juzi! Waacheni wavune rasilimali ztu na kuondoka zao!
ReplyDeletehaya wadada wapenda wazungu, mzigo ndiyo huo!
ReplyDeleteTanzania is among the richest country in the world with the poorest people on earth. We have all the resources, minerals, oil, natural vegetation, national reserves you name them etc etc. The main problem we are facing is our greed leaders and corruption. They just sign contracts without even taking time to read what is written in since they were promised 5% commission if they don't go through what is in the contracts. This is what brought Tanzania to so many contracts conflicts. This time our leaders need to show good examples before signing any contracts and another thing they need to agree with those foreign companies, how Tanzanians going to be benefited beside the 25% of what the government will be collecting as revenue! Je all oil would go to foreign countries and Tanzania will be ending up with environmental disaster like what happened in Mining areas! For the coming 10 years all the gold and Tanzanite would be wiped out and we will be left with nothing! Mwalimu Nyerere tried to protect all the natural resource for the benefit of the next generation. But today’s leaders think about chajuu more than next generations. Let the lights shine on them leaders no dark deals anymore. Tanzania we need to unite and go against all leaders who don’t care about us.
ReplyDeleteGod bless Tanzania and his people.
Scramble for Tanzania, last week we saw GE confirming setting up full fledge office in Tanzania, this week IBM are opening full fledge office in Tanzania. Microsoft, Dell as well.
ReplyDeleteBritish Government are owners of Songas (serikari ya Uingereza ndio wamiliki wa Songas kwa wasiofahamu). Stratoil inayomilikiwa na wafanyakazi (nssf) wa Norway nao wako hima hima wanachimba gesi na mafuta huko kusini usiku na mchana. Hapa mwingereza analinda maslahi yake na mnorway kusikia waziri wa uingereza anaenda maeneo yake hakutaka kupitwa, nami nitaenda huko huko. Subirini tu lazima Obama atue Tz siku si nyingi - futa na gesi hilo.
Mafuta yananukia saaaana tanzania, lakini gesi tayari ipo na Gesi siku hizi imepanda chati sana sasa baada ya mafuta ya petrol kuwa issue ya ugomvi huko middle east na pia kwa sababu gesi ni bora sana katika mazingira (environment friendly) kuliko diesel.
Tanzania tufunge mkanda,kuna familia na watu fulani-viongozi wa sasa na zamani watafaidika sana na kuwa mabilionaire wa bongo, hapa bwana pesa kubwa, maji mekundu yatakuwa nje nje zaidi ya huko kwenye madini ya dhahabu tumwombe mungu atuepushe.
alex bura, dar
Mheshimiwa Membe sasa unaongea mambo. now you are real doing serious business. Hiii ndo inaitwa ECONOMIC DIPLOMCY. siyo kila siku unakalia kupiga politix za CCM. waziri wa mambo ya Nje unakuwa International figure busy na masuala ya dunia na si sisasa za kina Nape na Slaa. Unapeperusha bendera namna hii na serious ministers wenzako. Sasa nakuomba chondechonde hii project iwe ya kweli na muanze kuleta maendeleo hukohuko inakotoka hiyo gesi. si mnavuna gesi mtwara halafu hata wananchi wake hawaoni manufaa.Manufaa yaanzie nyumbani ndo yaende Ubongo DAR.
ReplyDeletenatumani pia umemnongoneza waziri wa UK huhusu zile hela za RADA....,
Waziri pia endelea kuwa serious nmana hiyo U-President unaweza ukatua kwako japo ulishaapa huutaki,
Mdau-Mammtoni
mimi ninachojali hapa ni tanzania itapata asilimia ngapi ya faida ya hiyo gas na gas kiasi gani ita tumika tanzania. hii mikataba isije ikawe kama ile ya madini wakati wawekezaji kutoka nje wanachukua the lion share ya faida na tanzania inapata almost nothing and on top of that watu wetu wanaishia kupigwa risasi ovyo. tuache mchezo wakusema tanzania ina heshimu wageni na huku wageni wana tuibia.
ReplyDelete