Dar braces for power rationing
 
2005-10-21 07:59:48
By Joyce Mkinga

	Tanesco Ilala regional manager Martin Kalokola(r)talks to the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals,Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, at the firm’s Ilala power substation yesterday.

TANESCO customers connected to the Ilala substation must brace for power rationing for at least two weeks after two 45MVA transformers at the substation broke down on Wednesday.

The customers affected are those in the city centre, Buguruni, Nyerere Road industries, Upanga, Kariakoo, part of Oysterbay, Temeke and Magomeni.

Tanesco managing director Rudy Huysen told reporters at the Ilala sub-station yesterday that, although investigations had not been completed, engineer suspected faulty wiring.

’Tanesco customers are therefore notified that there will be power rationing that will affect houses and buildings served by the Ilala substation pending the replacement of the transformers,’ the MD said.

Huysen said Tanesco engineers and technicians are working round the clock to connect the customers to Factory Zone III substation at Kipawa as emergency repairs are being carried out.

He said that half of the affected areas got power back within 24 hours on Wednesday including Muhimbili National Hospital, City Centre, Kariakoo, government press and parts of Temeke.

’Some of the load was diverted within 24 hours, but the main load (transformers) will be repaired within two weeks,’ he said.

However, Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals Ibrahim Msabaha, who visited the station yesterday morning, directed Tanesco engineers to work overtime to fix the problem within one week.

’It’s important that the work is done day and night to solve the problems as soon as possible,’ he said.

The Ilala substation distributes between 50 and 80MW, but now its capacity has been cut to 20MW, which is being rationed.

The minister said rationing would balance between the needs of domestic consumers and industries.

Tanesco Director of Systems Control and Transmission Mohamed Salehe said the engineers had started dismantling one of the faulty transformers, which will be replaced with another with a 45MW capacity from Kipawa substation.

Salehe said one transformer costs between $1.3 and $1.5 million. He said Tanesco is shopping for transfomer locally and internationally.

The transformers at the Ilala substation have not been replaced since they were installed in 1988.

• SOURCE: Guardian