MATATIZO YA MFUMO WA KUUZA UMEME KWENYE VITUO VYA LUKU

Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (TANESCO) linasikitika kuwafahamisha wateja wake wote wanaotumia mita za LUKU kuwa tangu jana mchana (29/08/2011) kumejitokeza matatizo ya kiufundi kwenye vituo vya uuzaji umeme.  Matatizo haya yamesababisha mfumo mzima wa kuuzia LUKU kutofanya kazi.

Mafundi wa TANESCO walikuwa wanashughulikia tatizo hilo ili uuzaji umeme wa LUKU urejeshwe katika hali yake ya kawaida haraka iwezekanavyo..

Uongozi wa Shirika unaomba radhi kwa usumbufu wowote uliojitokeza.

 

IMETOLEWA NA OFISI YA UHUSIANO

TANESCO MAKAO MAKUU

TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI

Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (TANESCO) linapenda kuuarifu umma kuwa mitambo mipya ya kuzalisha umeme ya Megawati 100 iliyoahidiwa bungeni na Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Mheshimiwa William Ngeleja, imewasili nchini leo na kazi ya kuifunga inaanza mara moja.

Mitambo hiyo iliyokodiwa kutoka Kampuni ya Aggreko ya Mombasa (Kenya), itafungwa katika maeneo ya Ubungo na Tegeta jijini Dar es Salaam ambapo kila kituo kitazalisha Megawati 50.

Umeme wa mitambo hiyo utaingia kwenye gridi ya Taifa mapema Septemba 2011.

Mitambo hiyo itakayotumia mafuta itapunguza  kwa kiasi kikubwa tatizo la mgawo wa umeme nchini kwa kuzingatia ukweli kuwa mitambo ya Jacobsen Electro Supply kutoka Sweden itakayozalisha Megawati 100 nayo imeshaanza kufungwa Ubungo.

Awali TANESCO ilikuwa ikikabiliwa na upungufu wa Megawati 260. Hivyo kuwasili kwa mitambo ya Aggreko, kuwashwa mitambo ya IPTL inayozalisha Megawati 100, kutumika kwa Mitambo ya Symbion ya Megawati 112  na kuendelea kufungwa mitambo ya Jacobsen kunaipa TANESCO nafasi kubwa ya kumaliza tatizo la mgawo wa umeme mara baada ya kazi ya ufungaji wa mitambo hiyo itakapokamilika.

TANESCO inapenda kuwahakikishia Watanzania kwamba inafanya kila jitihada kuhakikisha kuwa Mikoa yote iliyounganishwa katika gridi ya Taifa inapata umeme wa kutosha, sambamba na kupanua huduma ya usambazaji umeme kwa wateja wapya.

Imetolewa na:             OFISI YA UHUSIANO,      

                                    TANESCO  -  MAKAO MAKUU.

TAARIFA KWA UMMA

JAMHURI YA MUUNGANO WA TANZANIA

WIZARA YA NISHATI NA MADINI

 

TAARIFA KWA UMMA KUPITIA VYOMBO VYA HABARI KUHUSU

JITIHADA ZINAZOFANYWA NA SERIKALI/TANESCO KUKABILIANA

NA MGAWO WA UMEME NCHINI

1.           Ndugu Wanahabari, tumewaiteni hapa leo tarehe 26/06/2011 ili mtusaidie kuuarifu umma wa Watanzania kuhusu jitihada zinazoendelea kuchukuliwa na Serikali pamoja na TANESCO kukabiliana na upungufu wa uzalishaji wa umeme uliosababisha mgawo wa umeme unaoendelea nchini kwa sasa.  Aidha, taarifa hii ni mwendelezo wa taarifa iliyotolewa na TANESCO tarehe 23/06/2011.

2.           Ndugu Wanahabari, tunapenda kuwakumbusha Watanzania kwamba mgawo huu wa umeme kwa kiasi kikubwa umesababishwa na upungufu wa maji kwenye mabwawa yetu yanayotumika kuzalisha umeme (Mtera, Kidatu, Kihansi, Hale na Nyumba ya Mungu).  Upungufu huu wa maji umesababishwa na kiasi kidogo cha mvua kilichonyesha mwaka huu.  Kwa mfano kina cha maji cha bwawa la Mtera ambalo ndiyo bwawa mhimili kwa jana tarehe 25/06/2011 kilikuwa meta 690.87 juu ya usawa wa bahari.  Kina cha chini kabisa kinachowezesha kuzalisha umeme ni meta 690.00.  Wakati kina cha juu kabisa  maji yanapojaa ni meta 698.50.

3.         Ndugu Wanahabari, tunapenda kuendelea kuwakumbusha Watanzania kwamba upungufu huu wa maji katika mabwawa yetu umeathiri sana uwezo wetu wa kuzalisha umeme kwa sababu kwa sasa hivi asilimia 55 ya umeme wetu unatokana na maji, 34% gesi asili na 11% mafuta.

Mpangilio huu wa vyanzo vya kuzalisha umeme unaakisi hali halisi ya uwekezaji iliyofanywa na Serikali/TANESCO kwa miaka mingi iliyopita kabla hata ya Shirika la TANESCO halijawekwa kwenye orodha ya kubinafsishwa mwaka 1997-2005.

4.         Ndugu Wanahabari, baada ya Serikali kubatilisha uamuzi wa kulibinafsisha Shirika la TANESCO mwezi Septemba, 2005 na baada ya Serikali ya Awamu ya Nne kuingia madarakani, mwaka 2006 ilibuni miradi minne (4) ya uzalishaji wa umeme usiotegemea maji, lengo ikiwa ni kuiondoa nchi kutoka kwenye utegemezi wa umeme unaotokana na maji na kuifanya nchi itegemee vyanzo vingine vya uhakika zaidi visivyoweza kuathiriwa na uhaba wa mvua.

5.         Ndugu Wanahabari, miradi hiyo minne (4) iliyobuniwa na Serikali ya Awamu ya Nne na iliyokusudiwa kuongeza kiasi cha umeme unaozalishwa kwenye gridi ya Taifa (MW 645) ni ifuatayo:-

(i)           Kiwira (Mbeya) – makaa ya mawe (MW 200), uliotarajiwa kukamilika mwaka 2009/2010.

(ii)          Mnazi Bay (Mtwara) – gesi asili – (MW 300) uliotarajiwa kukamilika mwaka 2010.

(iii)        Mitambo ya kuzalisha umeme (gesi asili) MW 100 ulionunuliwa na Serikali/TANESCO na kufungwa Ubungo, ulianza kazi mwaka 2008.

(iv)         Mitambo ya kuzalisha umeme kutokana na gesi asili (MW 45) iliyonunuliwa na Serikali/TANESCO na kufungwa Tegeta – Dar es Salaam, ilianza kazi mwaka 2009 mwishoni.

Hivyo, dhamira ya Serikali ilikuwa kuongeza kwenye gridi ya Taifa MW 645 kwa kipindi cha mwaka 2006-2010.

6.           Ndugu Wanahabari, hata hivyo, pamoja na dhamira hiyo njema ya Serikali, ni bahati mbaya kwamba kati ya MW 645 zilizotarajiwa kuzalishwa kwa kipindi cha mwaka 2006-2010, ni MW 145 tu (Ubungo MW 100 na Tegeta MW 45) ndizo zilizopatikana baada ya mradi wa Kiwira (MW 200) kukwama kukamilika ndani ya wakati kutokana na sababu mbalimbali ikiwemo kasoro za mchakato wa ubinafsishaji wake.  Aidha, mradi wa Mnazi Bay Mtwara (MW 300) ulichelewa kukamilika kama ilivyokusudiwa awali kutokana na mdororo wa kiuchumi ulioikumba dunia miaka ya 2007-2009.

7.           Ndugu Wanahabari, kama ambavyo Serikali/TANESCO, tumekuwa tunautaarifu umma mara kwa mara, ili kukabiliana na mgawo wa umeme unaoendelea kwa sasa Serikali imejielekeza katika mipango ya dharura na muda mfupi, wakati  utekelezaji wa miradi ya muda wa kati na mrefu ukiendelea.

8.           Ndugu Wanahabari, kuhusu mpango wa dharura, tayari TANESCO wameishapata kampuni ya Symbion (MW 112.5) ambayo tayari imeshaanza uzalishaji hadi kufikia MW 80 kwa sasa.  Aidha, TANESCO wamefunga mkataba na kampuni ya Aggreko (MW 100) ambayo kufikia mwishoni mwa mwezi wa Agosti itakuwa inazalisha MW 100 (dizeli).

Aidha, Wizara yangu imehakikishiwa na Wizara ya Fedha kwamba fedha za kununulia mafuta ya kuendeshea mitambo ya IPTL (MW 100) zimeishapatikana, hivyo kiwango cha uzalishaji umeme cha mitambo hiyo kitaongezeka kutoka MW 10 kwa sasa hadi MW 100 wiki ijayo.

9.           Ndugu Wanahabari, miradi mingine inayoendelea kutekelezwa ni:-

(a)    Ufungaji wa mitambo ya kuzalisha MW 100 (gesi asili) jijini Dar es Salaam ifikapo Desemba, 2011; na

(b)    Ufungaji wa mitambo ya kuzalisha MW 60 (dizeli) jijini Mwanza mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2012.

10.        Ndugu Wanahabari, miradi itakayotekelezwa katika kipindi cha muda mfupi ni:-

(i)   Kinyerezi – MW 240 (2013/2014) - gesi asili

(ii)  Somanga Fungu – MW 230 (2013/2014) - gesi asili

(iii)    Mnazi Bay – MW 300 (2013/2014) - gesi asili

(iv) Kiwira – MW 200 (2013/2014) - makaa ya mawe.

Utekelezaji wa miradi hii niliyoitaja ni sehemu ya mkakati wa kufikia lengo la kuzalisha MW 2780 au zaidi ifikapo mwaka 2015 kama ilivyobainishwa kwenye Mpango wa miaka 5 wa Maendeleo wa Taifa uliozinduliwa na Serikali na kupitishwa na Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania hivi karibuni. Miradi mingine ya uzalishaji wa umeme itakayotekelezwa ndani ya miaka mitano ijayo ni pamoja na Mchuchuma/Linganga MW 600 (makaa ya mawe); Ngaka MW 400 (makaa ya mawe); Ruhudji MW 358 (maji); Mpanga MW 165 (maji) na miradi ya upepo Singida.

Aidha, utekelezaji wa miradi hii utachangia kutuwezesha kufikia lengo la kuwafikishia asilimia 30 ya Watanzania huduma ya umeme ifikapo mwaka 2015.  Sambamba na miradi ya uzalishaji umeme Serikali kupitia TANESCO, Wakala wa Nishati Vijijini (REA) kwa kushirikiana na washirika wetu wa maendeleo mfano MCC, Sida, AfDB, JICA, Benki ya Dunia, n.k. inaendelea kutekeleza miradi mbalimbali ya usafirishaji na usambazaji umeme nchini.

HITIMISHO

(1)          Serikali na TANESCO tunaguswa na kukerwa na adha na usumbufu unaosababishwa na mgawo wa umeme kama wanavyokerwa wananchi wote wa Tanzania.

(2)          Tunaendelea kuwaomba wananchi waelewe kwamba mgawo wa umeme unaoendelea kwa sasa umesababishwa na upungufu wa mvua zilizonyesha mwaka huu, hivyo kutojaza mabwawa yetu yanayozalisha umeme kwa kuzingatia kwamba takribani asilimia 55 (55%) ya umeme wetu kwenye gridi ya Taifa unatokana na maji.

(3)         Tunawaomba Watanzania waelewe kwamba utegemezi wetu wa umeme kwa asilimia 55 kutokana na maji si dhambi, kosa la makusudi wala uzembe bali ni matokeo ya uwekezaji uliofanywa na Serikali kwa nia njema kama zilivyofanya nchi nyingi duniani.  Mabadiliko ya tabia nchi miaka ya hivi karibuni duniani yamekuwa ni changamoto kubwa kwa nchi nyingi zinazotegemea, kwa kiasi kukubwa, umeme wa maji.

(4)          Kwa kutambua athari za utegemezi, kwa kiasi kikubwa, wa umeme utokanao na chanzo kimoja cha umeme, Serikali ya Awamu ya Nne kupitia shirika la TANESCO imebuni na inaendelea kutekeleza miradi mbalimbali kwa kipindi cha muda mfupi ya kuzalisha umeme utokanao na gesi asili na makaa ya mawe ili kukabiliana na mgawo wa umeme kama ilivyobainishwa hapo juu.

(5)          Tunapenda kuwakumbusha wananchi kwamba isingekuwa mdororo wa kiuchumi duniani ulioathiri utekelezaji wa mradi wa Mnazi Bay (MW 300) na kuchelewa utekelezaji wa mradi wa Kiwira (MW 200), mambo ambayo yalitokea bila kutarajiwa, tatizo la umeme nchini leo hii lisingekuwepo, maana miradi hii ingekuwa imetuondoa kwenye utegemezi wa umeme wa maji wa zaidi ya asilimia 50.

(6)         Kwa vile mgawo wa umeme ni janga la kitaifa linaloathiri shughuli za kiuchumi na kijamii kwa Taifa, na kwa vile mipango ya Serikali/TANESCO kukabiliana na mgawo wa umeme kupitia miradi iliyotajwa hapo juu ni dhahiri, yenye tija na inayotekelezeka, tunawaomba wananchi waivumilie Serikali/TANESCO wakati inaendelea kutekeleza miradi hiyo na wapuuze kabisa dhihaka, kejeri na kebei zozote zinazofanywa na baadhi ya watu wasiothamini juhudi na jitihada za kweli zinazofanywa na Serikali/TANESCO kumaliza tatizo la mgawo wa umeme nchini.  Serikali inaamini kwamba watu wote wanaopuuza na kubeza jitihada hizi za Serikali na TANESCO wakati wanajua historia liliyopitia shirika la TANESCO (kutofanyika uwekezaji kwa kipindi ambacho liliwekwa kwenye orodha ya kubinafsishwa – 1997-2005) wanafanya hivyo kwa makusudi na kwa maslahi yao binafsi, ikiwemo maslahi binafsi ya kupata umaarufu wa kisiasa.  Tunawaomba wananchi wawapuuze watu wa namna hii!!!!

(7)          Tatizo la mgawo wa umeme kwa nchi yetu ni tatizo halisi kama vile tatizo hilo lilivyoikumba nchi ya Japan kwa sasa kutokana na matatizo halisi ya kuathirika kwa vyanzo vya umeme (kuharibika kwa mitambo ya nuklia kutokana na tetemeko la ardhi).  Pamoja na tatizo lililowakumba Wajapan ambalo kimsingi limechangiwa na utegemezi kwa kiasi kikubwa, wa umeme wa nuklia, bado taifa hilo limeendelea kushikamana wakati wote.  Ikumbukwe kwamba Japan ni miongoni mwa nchi tatu tajiri sana na zenye nguvu kubwa za kiuchumi duniani.  Suluhu ya tatizo hili siyo kubeza juhudi zinazofanywa na Serikali/TANESCO bali ni kuunganisha nguvu za wadau wote kuitia moyo Serikali/TANESCO kwa hatua za dharura zinazochukuliwa na miradi inayoendelea kutekelezwa kukabiliana na mgawo wa umeme nchini.

(8)          Tunawaomba wananchi waendelee kuvumilia, tuimarishe mshikamano, utulivu na amani na tuwaepuke wote wanaobeza juhudi za Serikali na TANESCO kutatua tatizo la mgawo wa umeme kwa maslahi yao binafsi ikiwa ni pamoja na maslahi ya kisiasa.

(9)          Sambamba na utekelezaji wa miradi ya dharura na ile ya muda mfupi unaoendelea, Serikali na taasisi zake za TPDC na TANESCO na kwa kushirikiana na China inaendelea na mpango wa ujenzi wa bomba la kusafirisha gesi asili kutoka Mtwara-Dar es Salaam-Tanga.  Upatikanaji wa gesi nyingi zaidi utaharakisha kufikia lengo letu la kutegemea zaidi umeme unaotokana na gesi asili badala ya maji.

Mungu ibariki Tanzania.

              Asanteni.

William M. Ngeleja (Mb.)

WAZIRI WA NISHATI NA MADINI

RATIBA MPYA YA MGAO WA UMEME

ARUSHA
PWANI
DODOMA
IRINGA
ILALA
KILIMANJARO
KINONDONI KASKAZINI
KINONDONI KUSINI
MARA
MANYARA
MBEYA
MWANZA
SHINYANGA
SINGIDA
TABORA
TANGA
TEMEKE

TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI

MPR/PR/12                                                                                     23/06/2011

Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (TANESCO) linasikitika kuwajulisha wateja wake na wananchi kwa ujumla kuwa limelazimika kuongeza mgawo wa umeme kwa mikoa yote iliyounganishwa kwenye gridi ya taifa ikiwa ni pamoja na Zanzibar.

Hadi kufikia jana (Juni 22), 2011 kina cha maji ya Mtera ni mita 690.88 tu juu ya usawa wa bahari. Kina cha juu kwenye bwawa hilo ni mita 698.50 wakati kina cha chini kisichoruhusu ufuaji umeme ni mita 690 juu ya usawa wa bahari.

Ongezeko la mgawo wa umeme linatokana na sababu zifuatazo:

1.  Upungufu mkubwa wa maji katika mabwawa yetu ya kufua umeme hususani mabwawa ya Mtera, Kidatu, Hale, Kihansi na Nyumba ya Mungu. Uhaba huo umetokana na uhaba wa mvua katika vyanzo vya maji vinavyojaza mabwawa hayo hivyo kuathiri ufuaji umeme.

2.  Uhaba wa mafuta wa kuendeshea mitambo ya kufulia umeme ya IPTL na hivyo kusababisha upungufu wa ufuaji umeme kutoka Megawati 100 had Megawati 10 kwa sasa.

Jitihada zinazofanyika ili kukabiliana na tatizo hili:

1.  Serikali kupitia Wizara za Fedha na Uchumi na Wizara ya Nishati na Madini kuhakikisha kuwa fedha zinapatikana kwa ajili ya manunuzi ya mafuta ya kuendeshea mitambo ya IPTL.

2.  Kampuni ya kufua umeme ya Symbion kuanza uzalishaji wa MW 80 amabazo zimeingizwa kwenye gridi ya Taifa.

3.  Shirika limekwisha ingia mkataba wa kufua umeme wa MW 100 na Kampuni ya Aggreko na inategemewa kuwa Mwezi wa Nane mwaka huu uzalishaji utaanza rasmi.

4.  Mipango inaendelea ya kuongeza mitambo mingine ya kufua umeme ikiwa ni pamoja na mtambo wa Ubungo wa MW 100 na ule wa Mwanza wa MW 60 ambayo ujenzi wake umeshaanza.

HITIMISHO

Shirika linawaomba radhi wateja wake na wananchi kwa ujumla kutokana na usumbufu wote uliosababishwa na tatizo hili la mgawo wa umeme.

Hivyo basi tunawaomba wateja wetu na wananchi kwa ujumla watuvumilie na kutupa ushirikiano katika kipindi hiki kigumu kwa taifa letu.

Vilevile tunawashauri wateja wetu kuwa waangalifu kwa kuepeuka matumizi ya umeme yasiyo ya lazima katika kipindi hiki cha upungufu wa umeme.

Imetolewa na Ofisi ya Uhusiano,

TANESCO –MAKAO MAKUU.

TANESCO na ACB wazindua mkataba wa kuwezesha wateja kupata mikopo ya kuunganishiwa umeme

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa TANESCO, Mhandisi William Mhando akitoa ufafanuzi kuhusu huduma ya “ACB Umeme Loan”.

Baadhi ya viongozi wa TANESCO wakifuatilia kwa makini uzinduzi wa huduma ya “ACB Umeme Loan”.

Baadhi ya viongozi kutoka Akiba Commercial Bank  waliowakilisha wafanyakazi wa benki hiyo katika uzinduzi wa huduma ya “ACB Umeme Loan”.

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa ACB, Bw. John Lwande akihutubia katika uzinduzi wa “ACB Umeme Loan”.

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa TANESCO, Mhandisi William Mhando (kulia) pamoja na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa ACB,Bw. John Lwande wakiwasha king’ora kuashiria uzinduzi wa huduma ya “ACB Umeme Loans”.

Mwakilishi kutoka CRB (Contractors Registration Board), Mhandisi Consolata Ngimbwa akitoa shukrani zake kwa kuanzishwa kwa huduma hiyo ya “ACB Umeme Loan”.

Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Ilala, Mhe. Leonidas Gama akitoa nasaha zake katika siku ya uzinduzi wa huduma hiyo.

Shirika la Umeme nchini (TANESCO) na  Akiba Commercial Bank, wamezindua Mkataba wa pamoja unaomwezesha mteja  kupata Mkopo wa kuunganishiwa Umeme,(service line) kwa urahisi.


Mkataba huo baina ya TANESCO na Akiba  ulizinduliwa tarehe 3 Juni mwaka huu na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Tanesco Mhandisi William Mhando na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Akiba Commercial Bank, John Lwande. Hafla hiyo ilifanyika Makao  Makuu ya TANESCO, Ubungo (UMEME PARK).


Huduma hiyo imelenga kuwasaidia wale wote wanaohitaji kuunganishiwa umeme lakini hawana uwezo wa kulipia gharama husika kwa mkupuo mmoja.


Huduma hiyo pia itawanufaisha wakandarasi wa ndani walioshinda zabuni ya kujenga mitandao ya usambazaji wa umeme kwa kuwapa mkopo ambao utawasaidia kupata vifaa vitakavyotumika kupanua mtandao wa umeme kulingana na ukubwa wa mradi.


Kwa mujibu wa mkataba huo, mikoa itakayonufaika na mikopo hii ni pamoja na Dar es salaam, Arusha na Kilimanjaro. Hii ni mikoa ambayo ACB in matawi ya kutolea huduma. Kwa mkoa wa Mwanza watakaonufaika na mkopo huu ni wakandarasi tu kwani mkoa huu hauna tawi la ACB.
“Huduma hii imeanzishwa kukidhi mahitaji ya wateja wetu wapya wanaoshindwa kulipia gharama kwa ajili ya kuunganishiwa umeme kwenye nyumba zao. Faida zitakazopatikana ni pamoja na uhuru wa upatikanaji wa mkopo, unafuu wa gharama za malipo, uhuru wa kuchagua muda wa marejesho ya mkopo ambayo ni kati ya miezi sita na ishirini na nne, pamoja na fursa ya kupata huduma nyinginezo za kibenki kama amana mbalimbali,” alisema Mhandisi Mhando.
Kwa upande wake Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Akiba Commercial Bank  aliwahakikishia wananchi kwamba ushirikiano huu kati ya ACB na TANESCO ni wa kudumu na si huduma ya msimu, na cha msingi mteja awe na vigezo vya kumwezesha kupata mkopo huo kwa urahisi.
Bwana Lwande alitaja sifa za mwombaji wa mkopo huo kuwa ni: 
Mkopaji awe mmiliki halali wa makazi/nyumba inayoombewa mkopo,mwombaji atatakiwa awasilishe ACB nyaraka zinazohakiki umiliki wa nyumba yake kama hatimiliki au leseni ya makazi aua hati ya mauziano au barua ya serikali ya mtaa anakoishi.


Sifa nyingine ni: awe tayari amepewa na TANESCO makadirio ya gharama za kuunganisha umeme, awe na chanzo cha mapato kinachothibitika kama biashara au ajira halali, awe mwombaji mwenye historia nzuri ya ulipaji mikopo kutoka ACB au benki nyingine.

PRESS RELEASE : TAARIFA KUHUSU KATIZO LA UMEME (19 – 26 MEI, 2011) KUTOKANA NA UKARABATI WA MITAMBO YA GESI YA SONGO SONGO

Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (TANESCO) linawaarifu wateja wake na wananchi kwa ujumla kuwa kuanzia tarehe 19 hadi 26 Mei, mwaka huu, kutakuwa na upungufu mkubwa wa umeme katika Gridi ya Taifa ambao utawaathiri watumiaji umeme wote walioungwa katika Gridi ya Taifa.
Upungufu huu unatokana na Visima na Mitambo ya gesi asili iliyopo katika kisiwa cha Songo Songo, mkoani Lindi, kuzimwa na wamiliki wake – Pan African Energy Tanzania Limited – kwa ajili ya ukaguzi na ukarabati.  Lengo ni kuboresha viwango vya gesi inayozalishwa na kusafirishwa kutoka kisiwa hicho hadi Dar es Salaam kwa kufua umeme na kutumiwa viwandani.
Tangu mwanzoni mwa mwaka jana gesi inayotolewa na kusafirishwa hadi Dar es Salaam kwa matumizi ya umeme na viwanda imekuwa ikipungua kutokana na sababu za kiufundi (Corrosion).
Taarifa iliyotolewa na Shirika la TANESCO, jijini Dar es Salaam leo imesema kati ya tarehe 19 hadi 23 mwezi huu kutakuwa na upungufu wa MW (megawati) 200 zinazofuliwa kwa kutumia gesi, kutokana na visima vya Songo Songo kuzimwa kimoja baada ya kingine, kwa ukaguzi wa kiufundi (intensive technical inspection).
Aidha taarifa hiyo iliongeza kuwa upungufu mkubwa zaidi wa umeme utatokea kati ya tarehe 23 hadi 26 mwezi huu.
Katika kipindi hicho cha siku nne, Visima na Mitambo yote ya gesi kwenye kisiwa cha Songo Songo itazimwa, na hivyo kusababisha kukosekana kwa MW 350 za umeme wa gesi.
Hii ina maana kuwa vituo vya Songas, Ubungo Gas Plant na Tegeta Gas Plant vinavyotumia gesi asilia kufua umeme vitasitisha shughuli zake kwa siku hizo nne, jambo litakalosababisha upungufu wa umeme kwenye Gridi ya Taifa, hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa umeme wa gesi huchangia karibu nusu ya umeme unaofuliwa kwenye vituo vyote nchini.
Hivi sasa kati ya MW 650 hadi 710 hufuliwa kwa siku kwa kutumia vituo vya nguvu ya maji, gesi asili na kiwango kidogo cha mafuta.
Kutokana na upungufu huo, katika  siku  tano za mwanzo, mgao wa umeme  wa MW 200 utaendeshwa na TANESCO kuanzia saa 2.00 asubuhi hadi saa 5.00 usiku, ambapo umeme utarejeshwa.
Aidha kuanzia tarehe 23 Mei 2011 mchana mpaka 26 Mei 2011 mchana mgao wa Umeme utakuwa MW 300 kuanzia saa mbili asubuhi hadi saa tano za usiku, na MW 50 kuanzia saa tano usiku hadi saa mbili asubuhi
TANESCO inawaomba wenye viwanda vikubwa kutumia kipindi hicho kufanya usafi na matengenezo ya mitambo yao, hususan viwanda vile ambavyo havina jenereta za dharura.
Wakati huo huo, Shirika lingependa kuwafahamisha wateja wake kwamba hali ya umeme imekuwa nzuri siku za karibuni kutokana na mvua ambazo zimenyesha na kuongeza maji kwenye vituo vya Kihansi, Kidatu na Pangani.  TANESCO iliongeza uzalishaji umeme kwenye vituo hivyo na kupunguza makali ya mgao wa umeme japo ni  kwa muda tu.
Hata hivyo kina cha maji kwenye bwawa kuu la Mtera bado kipo chini sana na hakiridhishi, hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa msimu wa mvua unakaribia kumalizika na msimu wa kiangazi unaanza.
Mpaka tarehe 6 Mei 2011 kina cha maji kwenye bwawa la Mtera kilikuwa mita 691.18 usawa wa bahari.  Kina cha juu kwenye bwawa hilo ni mita 698.50 na kina cha chini ni mita 690.00, juu ya usawa wa bahari.  Hii ina maana kwamba tangu mvua zianze kunyesha zimeongezeka sentimita 30 tu.
Tanesco inaendelea na mipango ya kukodisha mitambo ya dharura ili kupunguza makali ya mgao wakati wa kiangazi  kutokana na hali mbaya ya ujazo wa bwawa la Mtera na pia kuongezeka kwa matumizi ya umeme kwa upande wa wateja wetu.
TANESCO inawaomba wateja wake kupunguza matumizi ya umeme yasiyo ya lazima na kutumia umeme kwa uangalifu kwa kuzima taa mtu anapotoka chumbani, kuzima viyoyozi na vifaa vya umeme wafanyakazi wanapomaliza kazi maofisini na viwandani.
Tunatarajia kwamba wateja wetu na wananchi kwa ujumla watatuelewa na kushirikiana nasi katika kipindi hiki kigumu.


-ENDS-
_______________________________________________



IMETOLEWA NA OFISI YA MAWASILIANO, TANESCO
Simu: 2451185

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR POWER SECTOR IN TANZANIA

Eng. William G. Mhando,
Managing Director, TANESCO

WELCOME REMARKS

On behalf of the Management and staff of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), may I extend a warm welcome to all the delegates of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) to be held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 17^th – 19^th April, 2011.

Tanzania is the destination of the world famous Serengeti National Park, the world wonder Ngorongoro Crater, and Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.  Do not miss the rare opportunity of seeing these excellent tourist attractions, if you intend to stay longer in our country after the forum is over.

ABOUT TANESCO

The Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) is a vertically integrated utility which was established in 1964 under the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM).

It is charged with the responsibility for generation, purchase, transmission and distribution of electricity in mainland Tanzania as well as bulk supply of electricity to Zanzibar where the distribution is undertaken by the Zanzibar Electricity Corporation (ZECO).

The Company employs about 5,700 workers who are engaged in various activities from generation to selling electricity in mainland Tanzania.

TANESCO operates a relatively small electricity utility although the demand for electric power has been increasing at a fast rate, despite load shedding.

The installed generating capacity by the end of March, this year, was only 1,007 MW, out of which 561 MW is hydro based generation and remaining 446 MW is thermal generation (natural gas and diesel).

Due to a significant drop in water inflows into the hydropower stations, the available generation capacity has been reduced to about 630 MW while the peak demand stands at 833 MW.  This has created a shortage of about 203 MW, hence necessitating the ongoing power rationing exercise, instituted in all the regions connected to the national grid network.

ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY

While electricity is an important source of modern energy for economic activities, only about 14 per cent of the Tanzanian population of more than 40 million people had access to grid electricity, by 2008.  Only 26 percent of sub Saharan Africa’s population had access to electricity by 2010.

Biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal are the principal sources of energy for about 86 percent of the Tanzanian population.

People who live in rural areas greatly depend on these fuels, mostly for cooking, heating and business purposes at the household level and village community activities.  It is the same for the urban poor.  In Africa, more than 500 million people make their living without access to electricity.  Globally approximately two billion people have no access to modern energy services.

ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES

Although a large portion of Tanzania remains un-electrified, the vast reserves of indigenous energy resources including water, natural gas, coal, wind, solar, ocean waves, uranium and even geo-thermal energy could meet the ever growing demands of the power sector for many years to come, and to export electricity to neighbouring countries.

Tanzania and indeed the African continent require significant investment over the next 20 years to meet the growing electricity demand.  The annual demand growth at present is between 8-12 percent compared to 4-5 percent between 1990 and 1999.

It is estimated that the Southern Africa region alone, require about 55,000 MW of electricity by year 2025 to reach its economic and social objectives.

The African continent is in the fortunate situation that it has abundant indigenous energy resources that can be turned into modern energy services, yet these have not been sufficiently tapped.

Let us cite a few examples.  If you take Africa’s total hydropower potential is about 1,100,000 GWh.  However, only approximately 7.0 per cent of this potential has been developed todate.  Key rivers such as the Congo, Zambezi, Nile and Niger could provide a solution to Africa’s power problems.

In Tanzania, hydropower potential is mainly concentrated in south-western parts of the country and in the Rufiji River basin.  The potential is estimated to be 4,800 MW with an annual firm energy capability of about 20,000 GWh.  Stiegler’s Gorge in Rufiji River basin has a potential of over 1,400 MW.

Coal reserves have been found in Western and Southwestern Tanzania.  These reserves have a potential for generating about 3,000 MW of electricity.  The coals are generally classed as bituminous, with high ash and low sulfur contents.

Recent geological surveys have proved that Tanzania is among countries in the sub Saharan region with large potential for geothermal energy that is estimated at 650 MW.

Globally, wind has proven to be the most economically viable form of renewable energy.  With a total of 150,000 MW of installed power globally at the end of 2009, it is unfortunate Africa has only tapped 683 MW (0.43%) out of which Tanzania can boast of none.  Most of the wind farms are located in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco.

Wind power energy is plenty in Tanzania especially at Singida and Makambako, and recent studies have indicated a potential of over 500 MW, which alongside solar and geothermal could be developed to accelerate rural electrification.  The cost of electricity for wind energy has decreased substantially over past decades as the quality of wind turbines increased in the market.

WHY TANZANIA AND TANESCO SHOULD BECOME YOUR INVESTMENT PARTNER

Tanzania is not only a beautiful country, or rather a tourist paradise, it is indeed a country that it politically stable and peaceful.  As such it is enjoying quite fast rate of economic development that is including a high demand for electricity.

It is in fact a centre of economic and political stability in sub-Saharan Africa.  There are no political risks involved in financing power projects in our country.

Developing energy infrastructure on the African continent and especially in Tanzania is widely regarded as one of the key economic growth strategies.  The continent electricity supply industry will require up to 600 billion US dollars of total investment, over the next 20 years.

Private companies, individuals, investment agencies and donor financiers, from all over the world, should invest in Tanzania’s power sector because of the following reasons:-

• Tanzania is faced with power shortages at present.  The continuous demand for electricity due to sustained economic activities has not been matched with supply. 

A long range Power System Master Plan (PSMP) covering the period up to 2025 is in place and forecasts a growing consumer demand.  In order to satisfy the growing demand and a huge electricity market, and have “spinning reserve” (surplus electricity) there is need to commission between 150 MW – 250MW into the power system annually. 

There is strong determination to get out of the current power crisis not only to achieve customer satisfaction but also attract investors.

• The pro-investment attitude of the Government is vividly demonstrated by the legislation of the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) which is mandated to provide assistance to all investors and create a positive private sector investment climate, among other objectives.  Investment procedures, taxation, labour regulations and other operating guidelines have been eased considerably in the recent years.

• Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) has also been established to protect the interests of investing companies and individuals who are eyeing the energy and water sectors. EWURA is empowered to approve and enforce tariffs and fees charged by licensees, and award licences to selected prospective investors.

• Tanzania’s power sector has undergone many reforms since the country attained its independence in 1961.  Most of these reforms have sent positive signals to potential investors. They include laying down an Electricity Industry Policy and a National Energy Policy which spelt out new policies in favor of local and international investors, thus abandoning socialist policies which existed hitherto.

• The Electricity Act of 2008, enacted by Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, revises the old policies which gave TANESCO a monopoly in the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity.  The Act gives powers to individuals/companies interested to carry out such activities in the electricity sector.  EWURA, under the Act, is authorized to establish systems and procedures to monitor and measure a licensee’s performance and compliance with the Act, and monitor all the market operators, thus removing the monopoly status which TANESCO enjoyed in the past.

• TANESCO is a non operating member of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).  SAPP was created in 1995 to provide a forum for regional solutions to electric energy problems.  TANESCO is keen to become an operating member so that when faced with power deficits at home can import from SAPP within the set general tariff guidelines.  This however requires financing of transmission lines between Tanzania and other SAPP members.  SAPP vision is to facilitate the development of a competitive electricity market in the Southern African region.

• TANESCO has a policy of carrying out its projects in an “environmentally friendly manner” to minimize wanton destruction of vegetation, wildlife, fisheries, wild lands and other social economics.  The existence and presence of the rare Kihansi toad is a case pointing out that our company seriously cares about environmental preservation and energy security.

There are many other reasons why TANESCO should become your investment partner.  The service level standards have drastically improved in recent years following the promulgation of the “Customer Service Charter” spelling out obligations of TANESCO to customers, and vice versa.  Safety record is one of the best in East African region.

TANESCO’s present management structure is decentralized but with limited authority left to the zones and hydro plants.  The introduction of Performance Development Programme (PDP) in which targets are set and bonus is given to the best performing team, has raised revenue collection to 96 percent in 2011.

TANESCO was the first utility in East African region to introduce the pre-paid metering system in 1996 and last year the AMR meters for large power users were introduced.

CONCLUSION

The availability of adequate electricity supplies in a developing country like Tanzania is indispensable for the growth of agriculture, energy, tourism, industry and other economic sectors.

It is a prime contributor to the “quality of life” in the household sector.  It is also a prime contributor to industrialization.

TANESCO therefore invites private and international investors as well as donor community to come forward and become partners in power sector development a move which will reduce deforestation, impact on environmental degradation, fight poverty and promote economic growth.

In its new organizational structure TANESCO will have at the highest managerial level a Deputy Managing Director incharge of Investments, who will closely work with potential investors and existing donor financiers, whom we are grateful for their contribution to the power sector over the years.

Our corporate strength however rests in our people, a motivated workforce, who will ensure the available investments are properly utilized for the present and future generations.

Once again, you are welcome to the AIF and I wish you fruitful deliberations.  A list of power projects requiring investment decision can be viewed if you visit our Website: www.tanesco.co.tz, Blog: www.umemeforum.blogspot.com

ENG. WILLIAM GEOFREY MHANDO

MANAGING DIRECTOR

For more details:

Email: info@tanesco.co.tz

Tel:  +255 22 2451130/9

Fax: +255 22 2452026