TANESCO Headquarter building at Ubungo in Dar es Salaam
FEARS that had amounted among electricity users of the looming power rationing scheme in the country has been dashed off as the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) Ltd in collaboration with the government is underway to embark on the electricity generation plan to end power woes in the country. The move is to ensure that, the government’s promise of an effective power supply in the country is maintained and remains sustainable throughout this year and even beyond. The move by the Tanesco is to curb with the insufficient electricity power supply currently affecting the nation that is resulted from the low water levels found at the two major hydro-electricity power generating stations of Kidatu and Mtera respectively. The recent published report by Tanesco in the media is quoted as saying that, the generation plan aims at keeping intact the electricity supply between July-December despite of the current low water levels experienced at its main hydro power generating stations. The report is quoted as saying that, the continued low water levels at the generating hydropower stations is mainly due to the fact that, the long rains which started in mid March this year have stopped. However, the report has dismissed claims recently speculated by one media that the nation will soon be plunged into a total darkness due to a looming power crisis, but insisted that the strategies put forward aims to embark on a generation plan in a move to save the nation from the situation likely to occur between July and December 2012. In view of the prevailing situation, the report has necessitated the need of the government to continue with the plan up to next year when another rainy season of the year sets in, and it added that it is a sustainable program aimed to envisage no power rationing schedules anymore in the country. According to the report, an average of 720 megawatts will be generated under the plan in order to cater for the country’s need, and incase the need arises more than the required megawatts other generating plant machines with the capacity of generating 100 megawatts will be operated to suffice the needy. The program under generation plan to the national grid involves all electricity sources found in the country with a view to curb with the current shortage of the electricity power supply to the needy people for industrial and production development. To facilitate the plan through, the hydro power has been evaluated with highly technical knowledge and expertise so as to ensure that the available water at the stations generates enough electricity which would be used up to another rainy seasons, reads part of the report. The report further indicate that, other sources to be used in this generation plan up to the end of this year, is the use of natural gas and oil plant machines. The two sources would be used as the initial source while those using water would be used to increase electricity so as to cater for the electricity need at the national grid. Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Eliakim Maswi has said that, the government will continue to utilize water, natural gas, and oil to generate enough electricity for the need of entire nation. Eliakim told a press conference early this week in Dar es Salaam that, the three elements will remain the chief mode of electricity generation in the country as the government does not have any other means whatsoever despite of the continued problems facing the power sector. However, he noted that, while the government is waiting for the Sh.408 billion loan to be made available to the ailing power utility firm in the country from a consortium of banks, the government has been availing the electricity company with financial support in form of a subsidy totaling Sh.222.4 billion and a recent Sh.25 billion to ensure enough fuel is available for generation of electricity.
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