Construction workers building a new bridge against the skyline of Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, in April…. Along Africa’s resource-rich eastern coast, the promise of gas-fired prosperity is wafting into an uncertain future. Half a decade ago, Tanzania and Mozambique were hailed as two of the world’s most promising natural-gas frontiers, perfectly positioned to fuel Asia’s industrial boom. Today, these poor nations are paying the price for years of government inaction, as a prolonged slump in gas prices defers their economic transformation indefinitely. Tanzanian officials say it will be a decade before an estimated 55 trillion cubic feet of gas is pumped and sold; energy executives say that timeline is wildly optimistic. In Mozambique, where energy companies believe three times as much gas lies offshore, production originally set to start this year may not begin until 2020. “We have seen companies unable to fulfill their obligations, because the oil prices are […]