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Frequent power blackouts set to continue
2008-03-21 10:04:53
By Angel Navuri
Frequent power cuts will continue to dog consumers for a few more years as the national power utility firm, Tanesco, plans to repair its dilapidated infrastructure.
Tanesco says the numerous blackouts currently experienced are due to non-maintenance of the power supply system, including machines that had not been repaired since their installation.
In an interview, Tanesco managing director Dr Idris Rashid said the frequent power cuts were caused by ageing machines.
``The power disruptions are due to poorly functioning machines which do not get regular maintenance,`` he said.
He said the poor financial position of the power utility firm was one of the reasons behind the problem.
``It is very expensive to handle these machines. We are not in a sound financial position that would allow us to repair all them at a go,`` Dr. Rashid said.
He said frequent electricity disruptions currently experienced in Dar es Salaam and other parts of the country would not end soon.
``It will take time, perhaps four years as the machines need serious maintenance,`` Dr. Rashid noted.
The World Bank has promised to support Tanesco`s five-year maintenance project, according to Dr Rashid.
He said the project, which would commence soon, would help end the problem.
Some locations in Dar es Salaam have gone without power for up to two weeks, he said.
Expressing their disappointments over the problem, some Dar es Salaam residents said the problem has been affecting production, forcing some firms to lay off workers.
Hassan Manju, a businessman, said Tanesco was supposed to announce the power cuts well in advance so that members of the public could take the necessary precautions.
Another resident, Bakari Mwenda, said the government should get set to collect less revenue from industries.
Mikidadi Mrindoko, a resident of Ukonga in Dar es Salaam, said frequent power interruptions had damaged his electric appliances.
``The power goes off suddenly, only to return a few seconds later on high current, which causes the damage,`` he said.
He suggested that Tanesco should be privatized as soon as possible because it seemed to suffer from managerial weakness.
``They have all the resources, yet they have failed to provide the service,`` he added.
Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) Director of Research and Policy Hussein Kamote said the presumed period that the power blues were set to continue would adversely affect most industries.
He said that Tanesco had to give early notice to factories so that they could take precautionary measures ahead of power disruption. He warned that less revenue collection was imminent if the problem persisted.
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