TPA asks support from govt to strengthen security against pirates

Dar es Salaam. Director-general of Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Mr Deusdedit Kakoko has requested the government to provide his office with instrumental support to strengthen security in the Indian Ocean.

Mr Kakoro issued the plea when he spoke to the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Philip Mpango, who visited the TPA offices on Sunday.

According to Mr Kakoro, the TPA patrol guards on Friday had caught a boat which was used by criminals to steal oil from the pipeline, in the ocean.

However, the patrol guards failed to arrest the unknown criminals after they dived and escaped in the ocean. The patrol guards found bombs and explosives in the boat which was abandoned by the criminals, confirmed Mr Kakoro.

"We are asking the support from the government especially in order to enable our patrol guards to strengthen security in the ocean effectively,’ he said.

For his part, Dr Mpango, has pledged to provide TPA with instruments in order to enable them to strengthen the operations alongside the pipeline in the ocean.

"Firstly I congratulate the patrol guards for their efforts to prevent the pirates from causing damage in the oil pipeline.” Adding “I promise to fulfill your request,” he said.

He said that the stealing of oil in the ocean were denying the government to benefit from the revenues.

Meanwhile, Mr Kakoko told the Minister that his office was in process to install new flow meters, saying the process will enable the government to collect sufficient revenues through oil trade.