Tanzania needs to improve decisionmaking

August 31, 1997 Canada has urged the Tanzanian government to speed up decision-making and cut red tape on the Songo Songo gas sector project.
Canada's Minister for International Cooperation Diane Marleau said delays cost Tanzania $ 7 million in oil imports each month.
Canadian companies Ocelot Energy Inc. and TransCanada Pipelines are undertaking the project, which, when completed in early 1999, should pipe natural gas from an offshore well near southern Lindi region to the capital, powering 5 power plants.
The World Bank said it would put $ 200 million into the project but has made payment conditional on the restructuring of Tanzania's power sector.
TransCanada and Ocelot will fund the project up to $ 46 million, while other multilateral institutions should contribute $ 50 million.