Mtwara Region
TL;DR
Third port city with offshore gas pipeline to Dar es Salaam powering industry
Mtwara hosts Tanzania's third-largest port, strategically positioned near Mozambique for southern regional trade. The offshore gas deposits in the Mnazi Bay-Msimbati fields supply the Mtwara-Dar es Salaam gas pipeline, powering Tanzania's industrial base. Cashew production dominates agriculture, with processing plants adding value locally. The historic "Groundnut Scheme" failure of the 1940s-50s demonstrates the risks of imposed agricultural intensification. Modern development focuses on gas monetization and port expansion to serve southern Africa trade routes.