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There won’t be power rationing, Tanesco assures
2006-01-18 08:11:37
By Gerald Kitabu
Tanzania Electrical Supply Company (Tanesco) insisted yesterday that there would be no power rationing in Dar es Salaam, despite the low levels of water in Mtera, Kidatu and Kihansi dams.
However, the power utility firms hastened to add that prolonged hours of blackouts in some parts of Dar es Salaam are experiencing power cuts due to the ongoing rehabilitation of its infrastructure.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, the company’s Acting Public Relations Manager, Leopodina Kushoka, said current power cuts were as a result of load shedding to allow the rehabilitation work to proceed.
However, when asked to identify the areas in which rehabilitation was taking place, she had not ready to answer the question but said she would have to contact the relevant division of the company for details.
’I assure you and all Tanzanians that there will be no power rationing and if that will happen you will be informed immediately,’ said Kushoka.
’What is happening now is load-shedding and in some places people have to suffer because of the ongoing rehabilitation of the plants,’ she added.
However, she refused to comment on when the work would be completed.
’I also heard that Mandela Road had no power yesterday (Monday). I tried to call the regional manager for an explanation, but I couldn’t get him,’she said.
Regarding the water level at Mtera Dam, she said it has gone further down even after it rained heavily in the area last week.
’The level is now down to 687 metres from 688 metres since last week. The one day downpour did not bring significant changes to the water level in the dam,’ she said.
She said the same applies also to Kidatu because the dam receives water from Mtera.
’Although Kihansi is also generating power, its water level is very low. The situation in the dams has been caused by drought,’she noted.
Many parts of Dar es Salaam have been experiencing power cuts for as long as 12 hours since Monday last week. Some parts of the city have been experiencing blackouts for shorter periods.
The areas that have been affected most include the city centre, Mikocheni Light Industrial Area, Mandela Expressway and some parts of Kimara, Tabata, Tegeta and Temeke.
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