In eastern Africa, a $1.2-billion Chinese-funded gas-pipeline project, which would link the gas-rich Mtwara region in south Tanzania to the country’s capital of Dar es Salaam, has been delayed by local communities protesting the project's distribution of proceeds.

At least 11 people have been killed and more than 260 arrested since January this year during site protests of the 532-km-long line.

Communities want related gas processing and power projects, now planned for Dar es Salaam, constructed in Mtwara before the electricity generated is distributed to the rest of the country.

In May, Energy and Minerals Minister Sospter Muhongo said the power project cannot be built there because the region lacks infrastructure to upload generated electricity to the national grid.

The infrastructure is available in Dar es Salaam, he said.

The contract to build the pipeline was awarded to three Chinese firms: China Petroleum Technology Development Corp., Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Bureau and China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corp.

None of the firms responded to requests for a comment on the project controversy.

Muhongo says the project will push Tanzania's economic growth rate to 8% from the current 6.9% when it comes on line.

The pipeline will consist of segments varying in width from 24 in. to 36 in. It will be able to convey 210 million cu ft of gas per day, up from the 105 million cu ft.

The new and expanded line will pump enough gas to generate 2,780 MW of electricity, up from the current 1,000-MW capacity.

Despite the opposition from locals, Tanzania’s parliament has approved the project. However, a parliamentary committee on energy and minerals, skeptical of the contract cost, says the government must publish contract details.

Tanzania has an estimated 41.7 trillion cubic ft of recoverable gas reserves in gas fields at Mtwara operated by London-based Alternative Investment Market.