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Coal reserves put at 2 billion tonnes
2005-07-06 08:58:09
By Pastory Nguvu, Dodoma
Tanzania has about two billion tonnes of coal deposits in Mbeya and Iringa Region, Parliament was told yesterday.
The coal reserves were in Songwe Kiwira in Mbeya Region and Mchuchuma Katewaka in Iringa Region, the Minister of Energy and Minerals, Daniel Yona, said in response to a question by Kibakwe MP Daimon Mwaga.
The legislator also wanted to know whether the coal could be used to generate electricity and for how long.
Yona said in response that 30 million tonnes of coal from Mchuchuma could be used to generate 400 megawatts of electricity over a 20-year period.
He said, however, that the coal at Mchuchuma could not be used to generate electricity at this moment because the government lacked funds needed for its large-scale mining and the purchase and installation of coal-fired generators.
’’Budgetary constraints currently prevent us from producing electricity from coal on a large scale.
Funds from local sources and donors are currently not enough for this purpose,’’ the minister said.
Yona added, however, that a coal-fired generator producing six megawatts had been installed at Songwe Kiwira.
He said Tanzania had the potential to produce electricity for export and added that the country would export power to the east and southern African regions once interconnection facilities were put in place.
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