12th October 2015 - Chinese-built gas project launched in Tanzania

Photo taken on Oct. 10, 2015 shows the gas project in Mtwara, Tanzania. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Saturday officially inaugurated a 535-kilometre gas pipeline built with a 1.33-billion-U.S.-dollar concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. (Xinhua/Li Sibo)  (Image by News.CN)

DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Saturday officially inaugurated a 535-kilometer gas pipeline built with a 1.225-billion-U.S.-dollar concessional loan from the Export-Import Bank of China.

The construction of the gas pipeline that transports natural gas from Tanzania's southern region of Mtwara to the commercial capital Dar es Salaam started in June 2013 and was undertaken by China Petroleum Technology and Development Corporation (CPTDC), a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Company (CNPC).

The construction works involved the laying down of 24-36 inches diameter pipeline from Mnazi Bay in Mtwara to Kinyerezi in Dar es Salaam via Somanga Fungu where there was already a spur line from the Songo Songo gas field in Lindi region, also in southern Tanzania.

The Chinese firm has also constructed a natural gas processing plant at Madimba in Mtwara region.

Speaking shortly after he had commissioned the project, President Kikwete said the inauguration of the project should end power outages facing the east African nation's second largest economy after Kenya.

Tanzania has for a long time been facing power shortage due to its dependence on hydro-power generation

Full article xinhuanet