Maurice Makamba
As Tanzania grapples with prolonged power outages, the government has provided assurance that power rationing will cease by March this year.
During a parliamentary session, Deputy Minister for Energy, Judith Kapinga, affirmed that by March, power rationing will be a thing of the past in the country.
Despite this pledge, there is cautious optimism as citizens continue to face challenges due to inadequate power supply, leading to financial losses for businesses daily.
(TANESCO), the country’s energy utility company, has cited various reasons for the ongoing challenges, none of which have been effectively addressed thus far.
The minister further stated that in March of this year, plant number 8 will be switched on, resulting in all plants being able to generate 370 megawatts of electricity.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson, stated that Bunge has given the government until June this year to ensure that the power rationing challenge is permanently addressed.
Drought and maintenance issues experience since September 2023,compelled Tanzania to implement electricity rationing, as confirmed by the national provider amidst power shortages affecting the country.
Authorities introduced rationing measures in response to the situation, with the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) announcing that the shortages are anticipated to be resolved by March next year.
Tanzania presently has the capacity to produce approximately 1,900 megawatts, as indicated by Gissima Nyamo-Hanga, the newly appointed managing director of Tanesco, with natural gas contributing around 65 percent of its energy production.
Nyamo-Hanga stated, “We are facing a deficit of 400 megawatts in the national grid due to reduced water inflow, maintenance requirements of gas-powered plants, and the escalating demand for electricity.” “We are working hard in cooperation with government agencies to reduce this shortage starting next month,” he said, adding that Tanesco plans to restore 100 megawatts to the national grid in October after undertaking maintenance activities .
