|
Tanesco given 3 weeks
2006-02-22 08:04:18
By Ludger Kasumuni
Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (Tanesco) has been given a three-week ultimatum to complete installation of a new transformer at Ilala substation.
Speaking to senior staff of TANESCO yesterday at Ilala sub-station near Tanzania Breweries Limited premises in Dar es Salaam, Minister for Energy and Minerals Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, said that the long-awaited transformer should be installed by March 14 to ease consumers’ anxiety over severe power crises.
He said the government is concerned about the delay in the installation of the transformer with a 132,033 kilovolts capacity at Ilala substation.
He added that, even before the current power rationing got underway, industrial consumers were already feeling the adverse effects of frequent power outages.
The Ilala transformer broke down at the end of last December, resulting in a major power shortage that affected seriously both the industrial and domestic consumers who are connected to the Ilala substation.
’I had expected the engineers to start installing the new transformer as soon as possible. I don’t know why it has not begun. I want you to finish this work before March 14 of this year,’ Dr Msabaha said.
Tanesco general-manager for transmission Hans Lottering said that the delay in the installation of the new transformer with a 90 MVA capacity was caused by slow import procedures from India and the lack of some installation equipment.
Lottering said that the work was supposed to start yesterday evening after clearing the consignment at the Dar es Salaam port on February 12, this year.
He said the contractor for the installation of the transformer that cost US$600,000, Utegi Limited, had already secured the necessary equipment and is ready to start work.
He said installation would begin on Monday under the supervision of senior of Tanesco engineers.
|
