Dar es Salaam — The presidents of Tanzania and Kenya have agreed to fast-track construction of a natural gas pipeline designed to increased trade and lower energy costs for both countries.
The decision was reached Monday in bilateral talks in Dar es Salaam led by Tanzanian President Samia Hassan and Kenyan President William Ruto, during a two-day visit.
Last year, Hassan and Kenya’s then-president Uhuru Kenyatta signed an agreement in Nairobi to start working on the gas pipeline project, but actual construction has yet to commence.
The two countries have generally maintained positive ties in politics and trade, but have occasional trade spats.
Tanzania imposed a 25% import duty on Kenyan confections in 2020, saying the country used zero-rated industrial sugar imports to produce them. In another dispute, Kenya banned Tanzanian tour vans from accessing the Maasai Mara National Reserve, arguing that Tanzania had banned Kenyan operators from accessing the Serengeti National Park.
These differences were resolved when Tanzania’s Hassan visited Nairobi last year to meet with Kenyatta.
There were 68 trade barriers identified between Tanzania and Kenya at the time, Hassan said, and 54 of those non-tariff barriers were resolved. Ministers in the trade and investment sector have been tasked with working to resolve the remaining 14 barriers, Hassan said.
The projected natural gas pipeline would run for about 600 kilometers between Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. There is no projected completion date.
Source: allafrica.com
Share this news
This Years Most Read News Stories
Zanzibar airport operators decry job losses over Dubai deal
Tanzania air operators say over 600 workers are set to lose their jobs after the semi-autonomous government of Zanzibar awarded a Dubai-based company exclusive rights to handle ground services at a refurbished airport.
The Tanzania Air Operators Association (Taoa) said in a statement that the contract awarded to Dnata, which is registered at the London Stock Exchange, was in breach of the law banning any company from having exclusive rights to ground-handling services at major airports.Continue Reading
Serikali: Sampuli zilizochukuliwa hazijathibisha virusi vya Marburg
Wakati Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO) likisema watu wanane wamefariki dunia kutokana na ugonjwa unaoshukiwa kuwa wa virusi vya Marburg (MVD) mkoani Kagera, Wizara ya Afya ya Tanzania imesema sampuli zilizochukuliwa hazijathibitisha uwepo wa virusi hivyo.Continue Reading
Tanzania can benefit from strategic investment in national pride
Travelling to a few places so far, I discovered that the Tanzanian passport can change the way one is treated at airports and international bordersContinue Reading