|
Power generators finally here -minister
2006-07-12 09:50:40
By Zuwena Shame
The long awaited power generators have finally arrived in the country.
This is two months ahead of schedule. The generators were initially set to arrive in September, but acute load shedding prompted the government to hasten the process, after manufacturers expressed concern that they would be forced to lay off staff to lower production costs.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, confirmed that the 100MW capacity power generators had arrived from the US.
The minister said installation would commence immediately, adding that the government was working on the final details on how payment would be effected by the Bank of Tanzania to the firm that manufactured the equipment.
”The power generators – two purchased and two hired – would stabilise power supply through the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco),” Dr Msabaha said.
Following prolonged drought since last year, water levels at the main power generation dams decreased, leaving Tanesco without option other than effecting long spells of rationing.
The rationing schedule was temporarily eased following long rains experienced in parts of the country between March and May.
However, the rains were not sufficient to scale up power generation, prompting the government to speed up the shipment of the generators.
In his early days in office, President Jakaya Kikwete, announced a slew of measures his government would take to address the problem, which is key to economic growth as it impacts directly on the manufacturing sector.
The President announced that the government had set aside $90 million sourced from international financial institutions to purchase and lease generators to boost power production.
It was initially planned that the two 100MW power generators would be installed in Kinyerezi and Ubungo power stations.
However, there have been indications in the recent months that the government might opt to install them at Ubungo to shorten the time it would take to start operations.
|
