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Tanzania’s new gas discovery enough for 800 years
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Tanzania's President, Jakaya Kikwete, has said that a Canadian company, Artumas, discovered gas in the country last year - enough to power the electricity supply of Mtwara for 800 years. And before Christmas, Mtwara and nearby Lindi will have gas flowing into turbines and electricity into their streets, factories and homes.
Another field was also discovered to the north and that is starting to power the capital,
Dar-es-Salaam. |
The economic belief is that gas is going to save Tanzania's economy and by next year, its growth should be restored to last year's 7 per cent . The President says he believes it can go higher to 8 per cent, and he yearns for 10 per cent Mr Kikwete won the presidency a year ago, after a bruising party primary and then an open general election. Before him presided Julius
Nyerere, Tanzania's founding father. But despite ruining the country’s economy with his ultra-socialist ideas, Nyerere knitted the diverse tribes of Tanzania together into a peaceful whole.
Kikwete is being regarded as Africa's Bill Clinton - an ideasdriven, charismatic, clearminded, communicator who likes nothing more than to step into a crowd and parley with it.
A moderate Muslim, he has become a favourite of George W. Bush who has granted him the kind of access only reserved for Africa's big economic powers, Nigeria and South Africa.
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