By Lusekelo Philemon
The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) loses over 2bn/- per year through transformer oil theft and power infrastructure vandalism.Tanesco’s acting executive director, Felchesmi Mramba disclosed this here yesterday when inspecting progress of the 11.4bn/- ultra-modern power substation being built near Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
He said Arusha ranks number one in incidents of power infrastructure
vandalism in Tanzania, followed by Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions.
Mramba said in just one year, Tanesco loses 800m/- per annum in Arusha through theft of power infrastructures such as copper wires, followed by Kilimanjaro region (400m/-).
“This is one of the biggest challenges facing the company’s investment endeavours. Tanesco alone cannot win this war, we want people from all walks of life to chip in and identify perpetuators of the vice,” he said, adding that the move has a negative impact on the country’s power sector development.
The Tanesco boss revealed that company has been implementing power projects across Tanzania, though vandalism and theft of power infrastructures remained a challenge.
On the need to address transformer oil theft, the official noted: “We are thinking of using transformers which doesn’t use oil, but these kinds of transformers are very expensive. The price of buying one of these transformers is three times that of those using oil.”
On power losses, Mramba said 20 percent of the total power generated is lost before reaching customers, caused by technical and non-technical factors.
On the newly built KIA substation, the official said the plant is expected to improve power supply in Arusha and some parts of Kilimanjaro.
The 40Mega Voltage Amperes (MVA) power substation is expected to be officially launched in October this year.
The Arusha regional manager, Eng Genes Kakore said the new substation is expected to improve power supply for people living in Bomang’ombe area of Hai District in Kilimanjaro Region, Mirerani area in Simanjiro, Manyara Region, KIA, Usa River and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST).
“We are very happy with the construction of this new substation as it will provide reliable power supply for people living in Arusha City and its vicinity. The plant will provide a relief to the Njiro-based substation (132Kv) and that of Kiyungi in Kilimanjaro Region,” he said.
Eng Mramba said KIA substation is one of many such stations which are under construction across Tanzania; including five more giant power substations in Dar es Salaam.
The new investment is expected to end power outages in Arusha and its surroundings and encourage industrial development in the fast-growing northern safari capital.
Mramba said in just one year, Tanesco loses 800m/- per annum in Arusha through theft of power infrastructures such as copper wires, followed by Kilimanjaro region (400m/-).
“This is one of the biggest challenges facing the company’s investment endeavours. Tanesco alone cannot win this war, we want people from all walks of life to chip in and identify perpetuators of the vice,” he said, adding that the move has a negative impact on the country’s power sector development.
The Tanesco boss revealed that company has been implementing power projects across Tanzania, though vandalism and theft of power infrastructures remained a challenge.
On the need to address transformer oil theft, the official noted: “We are thinking of using transformers which doesn’t use oil, but these kinds of transformers are very expensive. The price of buying one of these transformers is three times that of those using oil.”
On power losses, Mramba said 20 percent of the total power generated is lost before reaching customers, caused by technical and non-technical factors.
On the newly built KIA substation, the official said the plant is expected to improve power supply in Arusha and some parts of Kilimanjaro.
The 40Mega Voltage Amperes (MVA) power substation is expected to be officially launched in October this year.
The Arusha regional manager, Eng Genes Kakore said the new substation is expected to improve power supply for people living in Bomang’ombe area of Hai District in Kilimanjaro Region, Mirerani area in Simanjiro, Manyara Region, KIA, Usa River and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST).
“We are very happy with the construction of this new substation as it will provide reliable power supply for people living in Arusha City and its vicinity. The plant will provide a relief to the Njiro-based substation (132Kv) and that of Kiyungi in Kilimanjaro Region,” he said.
Eng Mramba said KIA substation is one of many such stations which are under construction across Tanzania; including five more giant power substations in Dar es Salaam.
The new investment is expected to end power outages in Arusha and its surroundings and encourage industrial development in the fast-growing northern safari capital.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
