Tanzanian President, John Magufuli, gave orders to speed up long-delayed work on a planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in the Lindi region and estimated to cost $30b, Reuters reported.

Final investment decisions have been held up by government delays to resolve issues related to the acquisition of land at the site, as well as establishing a legal structure for the nascent hydrocarbon industry.

BG Group, which was recently acquired by Royal Dutch Shell, alongside Norwegian Statoil, Exxon Mobil and Ophir Energy, plan to build the onshore LNG export terminal in partnership with the state-run Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation.

Magufuli issued the instructions to fast-track the LNG project during talks with Statoil’s Tanzania Country Manager, Oystein Michelsen, and senior Tanzanian government energy officials, according to All Africa.

Michelsen stated that after completion of the construction of the envisaged gas plant, production would continue for a period of not less than 40 years.