Tanesco sails through with Tshs. 2.7 billion in its cofers

The Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) has saved 2.7bn/- in six years after reducing 20 per cent of power outages. The company’s deputy managing director (Investment), Decklan Mhaiki, revealed this at the weekend when briefing journalists on the goals attained by the firm during implementation of its capacity-building project which was supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Mhaiki noted that one quarter of Tanesco workers have been trained under the project whose core aim was to ensure efficient power distribution and transmission. He said workers were equipped with necessary skills to detect and repair malfunctions which might cause loss. “The company loses a lot of money when there are power outages…we need to improve services to ensure that customers get electricity all the time. We only get money when people buy electricity,” he said, insisting the firm would continue to provide training to its staff as technology advances everyday. 

Tanesco's Chief Boss Mr. Felchesmi Mramba

He mentioned other achievements under the project as development of maintenance guideline manuals, establishment of technical training system within Tanesco and training on maintenance works for distribution as well as for substations within Dar es Salaam.  He said the number of power outages have been reduced from 2, 322 cases in 2014 to 1, 811 cases last year, adding that such a reduction accounted for nearly 1,073m/-. He noted that the company would continue to improve its maintenance activities and roll them out in other regions countrywide. Mhaiki said Tanesco through JICA promotes the 5S-KAIZEN activities, which mean practice of continuous improvement through sorting, setting in order, shining, standardising and sustaining the discipline. Commenting on the country’s power status, he said so far the situation was good following an increase in water levels at the Mtera dam. He said in the past months water at the dam went down two metres below the required level but it was now three metres above the required level. According to him, the Kinyerezi power plant has contributed to stabilizing power production in the country. For his part, JICA chief representative Toshio Nagase said they intended to increase assistance in the energy sector. He said the aim was to help the government to realize its targeted goals of becoming an industrialized middle income country as stated in its development vision 2025. Nagase said the capacity building project was implemented from 2009 to 2015 and that the government has requested for extra support (phase two). “We are keen to continue supporting the government in the power sector,” he noted. He said there were some challenges during early stages of implementation of the project. He mentioned one of the challenges as difficulties in establishment of a communication link between JICA and Tanesco staff, which was eventually managed.