Chief Executive Officer of Sim Gas, Mirik Castro

Geothermal and alternative energy equipments in the country are yet to be standardized. Speaking in Dar es Salaam during a two day workshop organized by the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA) the Chief Executive Officer of Sim Gas, Mirik Castro, said biogas products have not been standardized by Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) because at the moment the service is not available.

Mirik explained that it was difficult for Tanzanians to trust on their products and respond to the question of standardization because the alternative energy products have not been measured for quality control. On his part, the Project Coordinator for bio-fuel production in the ministry of Energy and Minerals, Paul Kiwele said the government is working on the possibility of exempting tax on geothermal and alternative energy equipments.

Kiwele said that the elimination of tax on equipments will attract many companies to invest more in the industry, creating availability of reliable and sustainable energy.

“The government will continue to communicate with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) on tax charged for solar equipments.”

He further noted that solar apparatus constitute ‘alternative energy equipment’ to be exempted from taxes. Kiwele called upon all stakeholders in the production of biogas energy, to corporate with the government in the fight against fake products and equipment entering the country.

Responding to a statement by the TAREA boss, the TBS Acting Director General, Leandri Kinabo clarifed that currently there is no biogas standard set by the bureau since the technology is still new in the country. Calling it a ‘new subject’ he admitted that,

“…at the moment TBS uses foreign company standards such as the Indian Standard...”

He did however disclose that a Tanzanian biogas standard will be established effectively next year since biogas equipment are in use.