Tanzania has to maintain by all means an effective
supply of electricity if it wants the call for industrialization process in the
country to take off more efficiently. In any country in the world, the issue of
the electricity is given the priority it deserves when it comes to industrial
development and which exacerbates smooth manufacturing of commodities for local
consumption. In view of this, Tanzania’s Prime Minister and a Member of
Parliament for Ruangwa constituency Hon. Mr Kassim Majaliwa, has expressed government
keenness to expand the county’s power generation capacity by strengthening
implementation of various energy projects. According to him, Tanzania is
currently implementing various projects to improve power supply and upon its
completion, the nation will have reliable and affordable power that guarantees
operations of many factories. The
Premier made his concern in Dar es Salaam during his tour of Kinyerezi II power
plant, last week and expressed satisfaction of the pace of the project. The PM
said that the government has taken action to ensure the country is supplied
with reliable power to facilitate implementation of its industrialization
drive. “We want our country to have sufficient and affordable power to
guarantee operations of factories which will be built. It is our obligation to
continue strengthening these projects,” Premier Majaliwa said. He further said
that it is also the government’s strategy to boost power production to allow
majority of Tanzanians have access to electricity, including rural population. The
Project Manager, Eng Stephen Manda said that the project is being implemented
at a cost of 344 million USD (approximately 722bn/-) and upon completion, it
will have the capacity to generate between 30MW and 240MW. He said the
construction work for the gas fired power project has been accomplished by
66.32 per cent and they were currently at various stages of completion.
“We are
also proceeding with construction of poles for transmission line with capacity
of 220 kilovolt from Kinyerezi I to Kinyerezi II. The First plant with capacity
of 30 megawatts will be switched on by December, this year and 30 megawatts
will be added to the national grid on monthly basis,” he said. He mentioned
other projects at the area which were at various stages as Kinyerezi I (150MW),
Kinyerezi I Extension (185MW) and Kinyerezi II (240MW). Eng. Manda added that
Kinyerezi 1 (150MW) project was accomplished in March 2015 and the two projects
Kinyerezi 1-extension and Kinyerezi II are expected to be completed next year. He
said other projects expected to be constructed at the area include Kinyerezi
III (600 MW) and Kinyerezi IV which will generate 450 MW. Earlier, Ilala
District Commissioner (DC), Ms Sophia Mjema, who represented the Dar es Salaam
Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Paul Makonda, said the project will benefit most
people residing near the area. Ms Mjema noted that 100 people residing at
Kinyerezi have been employed at the project which is equivalent to 40 per cent
of all workers. She said apart from employment, residents in the area will
benefit from various social services which will be improved such as water and
education. During the laying of the foundation stone, President John Magufuli
directed the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to do away with hiring
electricity generating plants and instead, come up with constructive ideas on
how to set up their own power plant. “Hired plants are very expensive. They are
a big burden to consumers who have to pay more to compensate for the high
capacity charges, which end up benefiting the companies signing such
contract(s) with TANESCO, like it was the case with IPTL,” pointed out the
President. He directed that the country should come to a point where it
generates its own reliable power and sell surplus to other countries, just like
it is happening in other parts of the world.
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