TANESCO starts working on Samia directives

DAR ES SALAAM; THE Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) has started working on President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directives to address the problem of regular power outages in the country.

On Tuesday, President Samia issued a six-month ultimatum to the newly appointed TANESCO Managing Director, Engineer Gissima Nyamo-Hanga, to ensure regular power outages in the country come to an end.

Dr Samia issued the directive at the State House in Dar es Salaam shortly after swearing-in various Ambassadors and executives who were recently appointed, a move aimed at creating efficiency in the government.

“I am only giving you six months… strictly six months, after that time, I do not want to hear any concerns relating to power cuts,” said President Samia, pledging to support the state utility Managing Director in the endeavour.

In quick response, Eng Nyamo-Hanga addressed a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday, saying that the entity will embark on a massive infrastructures’ improvement campaign in the country in an effort to solve power outages by October this year.

He noted that currently the country experiences a shortage of 400 megawatts produced from its various sources, saying efforts are being made to reverse the situation.

He said the shortage was caused by a combination of factors including dry spells which impacted water levels at various dams. He said this was a result of climate change.

Other reasons, he said was a sharp increase in demand for power due to growth of economic activities, outdated infrastructures and the ongoing maintained at various natural gas fields and plants.

According to him, maintenance of the machines was on course, citing other plans to continue establishing new substations countrywide, which will allow connection for more regions in the national grid for a more reliable power supply.

“With the strategy that we have put in place, I can assure that we will sort the problem withing the next six months,” Eng Nyamo-Hanga said, adding that the plan is to inject at least 100MW of electricity into the national grid every month.

He said the power supply company is determined to complete the implementation of the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power (JNHPP) project which will have the capacity of generating 2,115 megawatts. The project is at 92 per cent to completion.

Explaining on the reason for the power cuts in the country, he said power outages is caused by the increase of electricity demand by 12 per cent compared to last year, attributing the rise to shoot up in economic activities and shortage of water at the power stations pushed by climate change.

On top of that, Engineer Nyamo-hanga mentioned the on-going maintenance at the natural gas wells and natural gas power plants leading to power outages to various places in the country.