Solar energy power is more expensive-Survey

SOLAR power, an alternative source of energy for dwellers of rural areas where conversional electricity is still a dream, is more expensive and way beyond the reach of the poor. Despite of the emergence of the registered solar energy power supplying companies which operates their businesses in the country, the survey has established that, the acquisition of the services given by these companies to rural people is more expensive. Judging from the price quotations of the solar panels given by some of these companies, the survey can reveal that, only few rural Tanzanians who can afford this precious commodity introduced by these companies including their installation charges. Solar energy power which is largely used by people in rural areas where other power alternatives such as the electricity is rarely available, is less available in rural areas whose large population is still subjected by poverty, and only few people who can manage the sale due to their expensiveness. The survey shows that, the sale of solar panels which differ in terms of bigness, quality and even durability are relatively fetched at a high rate price an aspect that a large population of the people who relies on one US dollar per day, and to whom the energy is specifically targeted cannot afford. Solar panels sold by reliable companies to their clients are much more higher than what an ordinary man in rural area can manage to buy. A recent spot check to a range of price quotations to solar panels varies from the minimal price of Tshs. 350,000/- to the highest Tshs. 1.9 million.

Solar panels are more expensive for trhe rural dwellers to afford.
According to an installation system of solar panels initiated by a Dar es Salaam based Rex Investment Limited, an old solar energy contractor in the country, the systems that allows the use of 3 solar lights which is the minimal in use, is made affordable at Tshs. 323,000/- followed by Tshs. 541,000/- if installed in a residential house and is only able to accommodate 4 solar lights plus a radio set. The mid price charged for the installation of 5 solar lights plus a radio set is affordable at Tshs. 802,600/- while the highest installation system charged for use of 6 solar lights, a 14 inch Television set, plus a radio set is made affordable at Tshs. 1.9 million. “This is too much and unaffordable to people in rural areas” exclaimed one Zephania Nyangweso when he was shown a price quotation form that included the installation charges for Rex Investment company at their pavilion during a National day for solar power energy celebrations held at Mnazi-Mmoja grounds recently in Dar es Salaam. Another solar energy power supplying company whose prices are a little bit higher but can be afforded by few ordinary people is Ensol (T) Ltd. The company has introduced four different price quotations on systems of installation charges for their solar energy power to their clients in residential houses. According to the company’s prices as indicated on their sheet quotation, a copy of which is made available to Business Times, shows that, they have a minimal installation charges of Tshs. 702,000/- used to light 4 solar lights plus a radio set, and the extra power to enable charging a cell phone.

Many people including rural dwellers in Tanzania are preferring more the use of charcoal as the source of fuel than solar energy which is so expensive that most Tanzanians living in rural areas cannot afford it. A charcoal trader taking his sacks on a bicycle to a nearby market.

The highest is a system of lighting 6 solar lights, a Television set, a radio set and still the amount of extra power is remaining for charging a cell phone. This is sold at Tshs. 1.4 million. The middle prices that differs in number of solar lights is fetched at between Tshs. 1.1 million and Tshs. 1.2 million respectively. All the amount are inclusive with installation charges. When required to comment on these highly quoted prices, an official of the company who preferred anonymity said that, the imported solar energy gadgets eg panels which differs in sizes are costly. This is accounted by the cost of their importation that’s inclusive with the government tax charged plus high customs duties charged for entry. Solar panel is a device that converts sunlight energy into electric current. A panel could either be amorphous or crystalline which is a more efficient material, therefore slightly differ in physical size and a higher cost. According to Mr. David .G. Mwangi, Sales Engineer of Phocos Limited one of the largest suppliers of off-grid power supply components in the world with branch offices in Tanzania and East Africa region as a whole, panels are available in different sizes ranging from 4 Watts to 130 Watts.