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CSOs want stable gas, oil extraction policies

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CSOs want stable gas, oil extraction policies

CSOs want stable gas, oil extraction policies
Uongozi Institute Chief Executive Officer, Prof Joseph Semboja. Photo credit: 24 Tanzania News

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have suggested that there is a need to have a system of ensuring that policies on oil and gas are carried on even after the current government’s tenure lapses.

According to the CSOs, President Jakaya Kikwete’s government has done an impressive job as far as oil and gas sub sector is concerned.

However, their fear is that once the new government takes over after next year’s General Election, the new government might decide either to change the policies on oil and gas or simply drop the Tanzania Natural Resources Charter (TNRC) that is currently on the drawing board.

The CSOs were speaking at an event organised by Uongozi Institute in Dar es Salaam yesterday. The institute organises such events to collect views from stakeholders on natural resources (largely oil and gas).

The Coordinator for Interfaith Standing on Economic Justice and Integrity of Creation, Grace Masalakulangwa, said she was not sure if the new government would carry on with the developments that have been made so far on natural resources by the present government.

“We have seen a good number of development projects that are crucial to the nation being abandoned even before governments finish their office tenure. On natural resources, the current government has shown interest to improve the participation of its citizens in monitoring exploitation of resources, which is a good effort,” she said.

According to the coordinator, the current government has accepted to be monitored on how it exploits natural resources and it has hired a panel of experts on revenue management, environmental assessment and human rights and another for researchers who are required to complete their task by December this year.

“My worry is when these panels have completed their work. Will the new government allow such monitoring to continue or it will come up with its new plans?” she queried.

The Executive Director of Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT), Dr Rugemeleza Nshala, said that in order to continue with the extraction processes of gas and oil for national development, policy and laws should be formulated.

Nshala said wananchi should be involved in the processes of coming up with the laws and policies for the benefit of many and not just the few wananchi or the so called investors. Nshala noted that the TNRC which was adopted from other countries like Nigeria has not included the views of crucial stakeholders including the CSOs.

“The TNRC we are discussing today did not take the views of the CSOs where experts are found but it has been adopted from abroad. However, we have a chance to add or subtract other articles, discuss, endorse and own it,” he said. 

Meanwhile Uongozi Institute Chief Executive Officer Prof Joseph Semboje, said that law and policy makers should understand that investors’ expectations are different from the citizens.

He therefore cautioned that when signing different pacts and enacting laws and policies, there is a need to consider both the nation and its citizens and the investor on a win-win basis.

He noted that if the natural resources are well managed, they can lead to economic development while if they are mismanaged they can lead to ‘resource curse’. Semboja noted that the views which are collected are meant to identify the gaps, challenges and opportunities and the solutions. 

So far Uongozi Institute has collected views from the parliamentary committees, development partners and Civil Society Organizations.

Later on it will get views from research institutions and universities and from district levels and finally those from the wananchi. 

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