`Zanzibar readying for gas, oil search`

Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi

The Zanzibar government has said it is set to explore and extract gas and oil in the next two years, after the two items are removed from the Union matters list.

Disclosing this to eight investors from The Netherlands at his residence in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Isles Second Vice President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi said: “After the two items are fully excluded from matters of the Union in the ongoing Constitution reforms, the Isles government would invite investors to explore and extract the resources.”

The Vice President told the investors that according to the prevailing constitution, natural gas and oil are matters of the Union and Zanzibar is taking legal measures to ensure that the two are removed before it invites investors to do extraction activities.

He expressed optimism that natural gas and oil would be excluded from matters of the Union after the Constitutional Review Commission concludes its work in 2014.

The Zanzibar Government of National Unity plans to set up a body to coordinate and regulate matters pertaining to natural gas and oil, soon after CRC’s work he said.

The Isles government has already written the Union government officially asking it to remove the two items from the list.

“We expect to have a new constitution in 2014, and we also look forward to having a solution in this matter,” the Vice President said.

He said Zanzibar would reduce its overdependence on development partners after it begins to drill the products which are in high demand in the world market.

Availability of the two resources in Zanzibar would facilitate business and economic opportunities in the area, and contribute to reduction of poverty among the people, he said.

However, when contacted to clarify the Isles Vice President’s position, Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union) Samia Suluhu, said she is not aware that natural gas and oil will be removed from matters of the Union in 2014.

“I am just back from Mecca and of course I am not in a good position to comment on the matter now…It would be a good idea to talk to the Isles Minister for Energy and Minerals,” she said.

In another development the Isles Vice President said his government is working to improve tourism, agriculture and Malindi port for the sectors to offer better services.

Earlier, former president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), René van der Linden, who is leading the panel of investors, said there are good developments in strengthening relationships between Tanzania and The Netherlands.

Linden commended the support and receptions given to his team, saying it has opened a new chapter between the two governments in implementing development projects.

For his part, The Netherland Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Ad Koek Koek, said his government has offered studying opportunities to Tanzanian officials to learn different issues pertaining to gas and oil.

Dr Koek said the offer would help the officials to acquire knowledge on the industry given that Zanzibar is also planning to get into the sector.

The resolution to remove the oil and natural gas on the matters of the Union was adopted by the Isles Revolutionary Council after the Representatives support in 2009.