Tanzania to Continue Work on China Funded Gas Pipeline

Despite violent protest over the China-funded $1.2 billion gas pipeline from the south of the country to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania will continue work on the project, Reuters has reported.

The pipeline is expected to be complete in December 2014. Tanzanian lawmakers approved the budget on Saturday, Reuters reported.

Residents of the southern Mtwara region are opposing construction of the 532 km pipeline, financed by a Chinese loan, until they get a bigger share of benefits from gas development, Reuters said.

In recent years east African countries mainly Tanzania and Mozambique have found large quantities off natural gas off their coasts. Experts are of the view that the region could see more gas discoveries and is slated to become a large gas exporter, mainly to the Asian countries.