Tanzania: World Bank Funds Dar Gas Project

Tanzania has secured $2.2 million from the World Bank to rehabilitate the Songo Songo landing jetty in the south. The move will see the government upgrade and extend the existing jetty and construct a breakwater to protect the jetty during the monsoon season. Gas producing firm Songas Tanzania Ltd has funded the initial stages of the project, including the environmental impact assessment for the project.
"Songas has already completed the design, which includes the Jetty structure, lighting and protective breakwater," said Christopher Ford, the managing director of the company.

The jetty would provide safe and reliable access to the island, ensuring that loading and offloading of goods and personnel would not pose a danger to individuals, vessels or the jetty structure.
World Bank Communication Officer, Nicodemas Odhiambo, said the use of the current jetty was restricted at low tide thus preventing ships from loading or offloading the gas and passengers.
The minister for transport, Omar Nundu, said the government decided to rehabilitate the jetty because passengers and ships faced risks, mainly associated with the poor design of the jetty.

Mr Nundu said the seabed around and beyond the new end of the jetty will be dredged within an arc of about 50 meters and obstacles removed in an area covering approximately 1,800 square metres.

Jetty too short
The Songo Songo marine environment which will be affected by the proposed rehabilitation is a typically sheltered area, dominated on the western shores by coral rock platform.
During the implementation of the Songo Songo gas extraction project, the existing jetty on Songo Songo Island was taken over by Songas and a new jetty was constructed on the western shoreline of the island for use by the Songo Songo villagers.
The jetty is overtopped during very high tides and too short for arriving boats during low tides.
The construction is expected to start early next year.