Tanesco power sub-station in Dar es Salaam. Photo/Nation

Many factories will be forced to close down next week when the weeklong 16 hour power rationing announced by Tanesco takes effect, it was said in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

Several managers interviewed by the ‘Daily News,’ said their production involved consumption of a huge amount of electricity and that it would be too expensive to rely on generators.

They ruled out on the possibilities of industrial products’ price hike as a result, but added that if the rationing would last longer, there would be no choice.

On Saturday Tanesco announced power interruptions from May 19 to 26, to pave way for intensive technical inspection at Songo Songo gas fields in Kilwa District.

According to the power utility Managing Director, Mr William Mhando, the maintenance of gas wells and the plant was aimed at improving the quantity of natural gas produced and transported from the island to Dar es Salaam for power generation and industrial use.

“It is high time now that the government seeks alternative sources of energy and produce surplus to reserve power for times of emergency,” said the Confederation for Tanzania Industries (CTI) Director of Policy and Advocacy, Mr Hussein Kamote.

Mr Kamote noted that maintenance of power generation infrastructure was inevitable and thus it should not be seen as a sudden occurrence, adding that Tanesco should have taken measures earlier enough not to enter into rationing.

The Metro Steel/Plastic Industries Limited Managing Director, Mr Ghulam Ali also emphasized on the importance of having standby power plants in place to be used during power shortage.

“We had started sensing relief after months of power rationing that was caused by the drop in water levels at hydropower productions dams, we are shocked by the news of fresh rationing as this will adversely affect our activities,” he said.

Mr Ali noted that his industries (Metro Steel Mills Limited and Metro Plastic Industries Limited) consumes up to 5mw of electricity which is difficult to be produced by the use of generators and thus the only option shall be to turn off machines.

The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Principal Public Relations Officer, Mr MacDonald Mwakasendile noted that the authority was well prepared to continue offering services in all its offices using generators.

“I am not in a position to say to what extent the authority will be affected in its collections but just like any other disaster, this one will affect our daily operations,” he said.

Many analysts say so many businesses from big to small will be affected as there has been overdependence in electricity to run business.

A barbershop owner along Kilwa Road in Dar es Salaam, Mr Maulid Kisaka says his daily earning is determined by availability of power, adding that without electricity life would be difficult.

“I will have to use generator to stay on business, with a generator I will be forced to increase charges to meet running costs as fuel prices are very high,” he said.

Maulid charges 1,500/- per head but with generator, he anticipates that he will have to charge up to 2,000/- per head.

The Tanesco chief noted that to start with, gas production at the facility will be partially halted for five days from May 19 to 23 and then it would be totally shut down for four days from May 23 to 26, he said.

“As a result, there will be a shortage of 200MW in the national grid during the five days and a deficit of 350MW during the four days when the plant will be shut down completely,” explained the Tanesco boss.

At present, power generation stands at between 650MW and 710MW from hydro sources, natural gas and fuel. It was also said that there shall be up to sixteen hours rationing daily.

Kigoma, Rukwa, Kagera, Mtwara and Lindi will not be affected by the interruption since they are not connected to the national grid.

By ABDULWAKIL SAIBOKO, Tanzania Daily News

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