WB Funds Avert Power Rationing in Tanzania
 

By ABDUEL KENGE
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

THE WORLD Bank will disburse to Tanzania part of the $43.8 million energy sector financing that was approved in July this year.

This follows crucial talks between the Bank and the Tanzania government last week on how to avert an imminent power shortage as water levels at three major hydropower dams dropped sharply.

The meeting, in Dar es Salaam, between the Bank, Ministry of Energy experts and officials of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), also focused on the implementation of the Emergency Power Project (EPP). 

Sources told The EastAfrican that the funds would be "disbursed immediately" to avoid power rationing in the period before the onset of the long rains, which start in March next year. 

Tanzania faces a serious drought in the southern highlands, the catchment areas of the Ruaha river that supplies water to the three major hydroelectric dams of Mtera, Kihansi and Kidatu. 

The dams’ water levels have dropped drastically, forcing the government to order the shutdown of the 80MW Kidatu hydroelectric dam with effect from this week.

The three dams produce almost 50 per cent of the 600MW-plus power generated by Tanesco. 

The company is now forced to supplement power from its own generators and from two independent power generators – Songas (112MW) and Independent Power Tanzania Ltd (IPTL) 100 MW. 

There have been frequent power outages in Dar es Salaam in the past week. However, the effects of the interruptions on industrial production have not been established.

The WB funds are said to be intended to avert power rationing in the period between November to March 2005 when the long rains will set in, and contain three components: purchasing of fuel to run the Ubungo turbines; purchasing power from IPTL which is expensive compared with the hydropower generated by Tanesco or Songas Ltd and the repair of Tanesco’s emergency system. 

In principle, the World Bank approved the project in July this year but the fund was ready for withdrawals on September 13, according to a government official. 

However, some of the loan components are in still in the implementation stage, since the the agreement was signed last week. 

The emergency power project was conceived a few years ago after Tanzania experienced its first major power shortage, following the drought that affected the country in the mid-1990s. The drought was blamed on over-dependence on hydropower-generated electricity.

The Minister for Energy and Minerals, Daniel Yona, last week told The EastAfrican that despite the adverse weather, Tanzania "will not face power rationing this year as measures have been in place since January to ensure there is no power shedding caused by water shortage at the hydro-dams.

"Tanzania has recently reduced the dependence on hydro-power by almost 10 per cent, to 60 per cent, after the launch of gas-to-electricity project by Songas Ltd in September," he added. 

Songas has an installed capacity to generate 180 MW, which will be tapped into when more generators are installed.

Tanesco’s hydropower system depends heavily on the dams, among them Nyumba ya Mungu and Hale in northern Tanzania. The remaining 40 per cent is generated from natural gas and diesel turbines. 

Mr Yona, however, said, The water inflow level at Mtera, Kidatu and Kihansi is poor due to unsatisfactory short rains this season. He said that, apart from drawing electricity from Songas and IPTL, Geita Gold Mining company and Mtibwa Sugar could also supply power to the national grid should Tanesco require additional power. 

Songas expects to generate up to 180MW by February next year, when two more turbines will have been installed.

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