THE government intends to open up a new entry point for petroleum products into the country after announcing Mtwara port as the third after Dar es Salaam and Tanga, it has been learnt.
The first consignment at the new Mtwara
Port will be announced after the Energy and Water Utility Regulatory
Authority (EWURA) signs a memorandum of understanding with the Tanzania
Ports Authority (TPA) in Mtwara.
Ewura’s Communication and Public
Relations Manager (CPRM) Mr Titus Kaguo made the revelation while in an
interview with ‘Daily News,’ adding that the authority has already hold
talks with both parties including some oil marketing companies and the
regional administration. The oil marketing companies includes GM
Investment and Oilcom after it was learnt that the port was essential
for them.
“We plan to open up Mtwara port very
soon and the plan will help to lower fuel prices in the Southern regions
especially Lindi, Mtwara and Mbeya,” Mr Kaguo noted. Retail and
wholesale price for fuel in upcountry regions is determined by the
distance from the point of entry in additional to global oil price
trend.
The regulator was of the view that other
than helping to spur economic development, the plan will help to
decongest the Dar es Salaam port, and unlock economic potentials in
Mtwara and as well take precautionary measures as a watchdog on security
matters likely to arise along the shore.
However, there were no comments from
Mtwara port when they were contacted over the issue, apart from the
regulator body sending a team of experts to Mtwara last week. In a
separate but related development, Mr Kaguo hinted that readiness of the
Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) on the matter would speed up the
process.
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