Decision to remove oil from the list of union matters was a unanimous decision by the Isles government and would therefore not be reversed

Z,bar: Decision on oil, gas irreversible.
17th October 2009
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Minister for Water, Energy and Land, Mansour Yussuf Himid

Zanzibar government yesterday reiterated its stand on the issue of oil and natural gas insisting that the natural resources would remain a preserve of the Isles government.

Speaking at the on-going Zanzibar House of Representatives session here, the Minister for Water, Energy and Land, Mansour Yussuf Himid said the decision to remove oil and natural gas from the list of union matters was a unanimous decision by the Isles government and would therefore not be reversed.

Responding to questions from legislators, Himid for the first time in history, CCM and CUF legislators had joined ranks and spoke as one voice defending the issue of oil and natural gas that it should remain exclusive for Zanzibar.

He said the government was working on the final details of the energy policy scheduled to be presented in the next House meeting slated for January next year.

The Minister also said operational laws and regulations for the exploration and exploitation of oil would be drafted shortly.

According to Himid preparations include official communication between the ministry of energy and that of Education and Vocational Training in Zanzibar to identify people who would pursue the related oil production studies abroad.

“I would like to assure you that selection of applicants will be accomplished on merit and legislators have nothing to worry about. We have identified a number of potential sponsors for these students,” the minister explained.

The minister said an Arab country, which he did not disclose, had agreed to support oil exploration and drilling in Zanzibar, adding, that a comprehensive agreement to that effect would be reached.

Earlier, the representative for Kwahani constituency, Ali Suleiman Ali demanded government explanation on measures taken to prepare the energy policy.

Meanwhile, the deputy minister for Water, Energy and Land, Tafana Kassim Mzee told the House that explorations carried out in 1952 through 1964 by BP and Shell in Pemba and Unguja did not confirm availability of oil and natural gas in all six deep wells dug in Zanzibar.

Responding to a question by Ali Denge Makame, representative for Amani constituency, the deputy minister said: “Let me clarify on this that no place in Zanzibar has been confirmed to have oil and natural gas for sure except that seismic research findings indicate the possibility of having the reserves in the isles.

In the last session of the national Assembly the issue of oil in Zanzibar sparked a heated debate with some of the legislators using strong words which prompted formation of a special elders’ team by CCM National Executive Committee under the chairmanship of former president, Ali Hassan Mwinyi set to hold talks with Zanzibar representatives to iron out the differences.

However, President Jakaya Kikwete commenting on the controversial issue of oil and natural gas in Zanzibar recently, said it was negotiable and there was no reason to start quarreling for something whose existence was yet to be confirmed