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| Zanzibar President, Hussein Ali Mwinyi witnesses the signing of an agreement on the handing over of data on oil and gas exploration at Zanzibar State House recently. Putting pen to paper are Energy Minister, January Makamba (left) and Zanzibar Blue Economy and Fisheries Minister, Suleiman Masoud Makame. |
Unguja - Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar will no longer oversee oil and gas sector jointly. Prior to that, oil and gas was a Union matter overseen by the United Republic of Tanzania. However, after the recent development Zanzibar will be independent from Tanzania Mainland in the matter.
Zanzibar received its oil and gas data from Tanzania Mainland, allowing the Indian Ocean archipelago to go ahead with the search for exploration investors independently.
Oil and gas was one of the contentious Union matters which have taken long to resolve but the recent event marked a new chapter in which Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar will manage the industry separately.
Also Read: Tanzania in a new initiative to attract oil, gas investors
Energy Minister January Makamba and Zanzibar’s Blue Economy and Fisheries Minister Suleiman Masoud Makame signed and exchanged a transmittal document during a function held at Zanzibar State House.
Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, who attended the signing ceremony, described the handing over of the petroleum seismic data – which contain images of the subsurface in both land and marine environments – as a historic milestone for both sides.
“We have been waiting for a long time to resolve this matter. This is both a legal and political milestone,” said Dr Mwinyi.
“We are now going ahead to drill oil in Zanzibar because all signs areb there,” he added.
Dr Mwinyio thanked Retired President Jakaya Kikwete and retired Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein, who agreed to drop oil and gas from the list of Union matters.
Oil and gas are important component in Zanzibar’s blue economy policy, which is touted by Dr Mwinyi.
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