The Tanzania government has promised to formulate policies and regulations guiding extraction of the discovered gas in Lindi and Mtwara regions.
The Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals (Energy), George Simbachawene
Speaking while debating the Prime Minister’s Office budget estimates, the Deputy Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr George Simbachawene, said that drafts for the policy and regulations were ready.The National Assembly later on endorsed the 2013/14 budget estimates for the Prime Minister’s Office Wednesday evening.
“Let me start by breaking this good news to you that the amount of gas discovered has increased and it is therefore fundamental to have laws that govern the exploration and use of the resources for the benefit of the public,” he said.
Mr Simbachawene made the revelation in response to a concern raised by Mr Christopher Ole Sendeka (Simanjiro-CCM) on the need to form policies and laws on exploration of natural resources, instead of issuing permits using contracts.
In another development, the government has put in place strategies to promote the set up of local modern factories by the private sector towards controlling the export of raw materials.
The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, said that the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) will collaborate with the private sector to set up industries by contributing 60 per cent of the funds as partners (people willing to set up the factory) provide 40 per cent.
“We are encouraging the setting up of more industries by the private sector – NSSF will provide 60 per cent to set up an industry,” he said.
He was responding to Lindi Urban MP (CUF) Mr Salum Mbaruani who wanted to know the fate of idle processing factories in Tanga and Lindi regions asking the government to repossess the facilities and hand them to cashew nut farmers through cooperatives.
However, Mr Nyalandu maintained that the move was not necessary as the owners of factories were promising to find ways of setting up modern processing factories.
In another development, the government has assured the National Assembly of clean and enough water to villages facing scarcity of the precious liquid.
The Deputy Minister for Water, Dr Binilith Mahenge, said that plans are afoot including increasing resources in the 2013/14 financial year.
“We are committed to curb water scarcity especially in rural areas. Strategies have been set up and their implementation was underway to ensure enough water in the areas,” he said.
By ANNE ROBI, Tanzania Daily News
