Tanzania, May 20 -- Dar es Salaam. A Canadian firm plans to build in Tanzania a $420 million plant that will produce diesel and jet fuel from natural gas.

Representatives of Rocky Mountain GTL visited Tanzania last month and met with government officials to discuss investment opportunities. The firm specialises in designing, constructing and operating plants that convert natural gas and natural gas liquids into synthetic diesel and jet fuel.

The processing plant is also expected to produce naphtha - the main ingredient used to lighten heavy oil in pipelines - and other by-products such as hydrogen fuel, which is in high demand in developed countries.

The company's local partner, Memnon Project Management Services Tanzania (MPMS), said ...