Tanesco in major restructuring

THE Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) is being streamlined to focus more on expanding the customer base from the present 650,000 to one million clients in the next five years, it has been learnt.

CHARLES KIZIGHA

THE Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) is being streamlined to focus more on expanding the customer base from the present 650,000 to one million clients in the next five years, it has been learnt.

The Managing Director, Dr Idris Rashid, told newsmen over the weekend that the board of directors has approved a new organisational structure for Tanesco that will, among other changes, see the company divided into five autonomous zones. Some 330 workers out of 732 at the headquarters in Dar es Salaam would be transferred to the zonal offices.

The headquarters will be run under three major divisions, namely generation, transmission and marketing (previously
called distribution). The division for support services has been disbanded. Each division will be headed by a general manager.

Dr Rashid said low voltage and power fluctuations would be over come July, following current measures to install new transformers and heavy-duty conductors.

A new transformer for 90 KVAwould be installed at Ilala sub-station. The new transformer would ease the current power interruptions and customers were bound to receive reliable and quality electricity for most of the city centre, he added.

However, the MD pointed out that Tanesco required some one billion US dollars (1.3 trillion/-) to make it a vibrant utility
firm.

The World Bank was expected to chip in 100 million US dollars for rehabilitation and electrification projects at Kurasini Creek, Kigamboni and Gongo la Mboto. The Japanese government has committed to projects in Regent Estate in Kinondoni District.

The amount was not revealed. He said that 275 million US dollars (375bn/-) from the Millennium Challenge Account would be spent in Morogoro, Tanga, Dodoma, Iringa, Mwanza and Mbeya regions plus the Malagarasi dam project to generate power for Kigoma Region.

The zones include Dar es Salaam, where 55 per cent of electricity generated is distributed. It encompasses Dar es Salaam city, Coast Region and Kilwa District. The northern zone, which draws 20 per cent of the generated power, covers Arusha, Tanga, Kilimanjaro and Manyara regions.

The lake zone, which consumes 13 per cent of the country’s electricity, would cover Mwanza, Mara, Kagera, Tabora Shinyanga and Kigoma. Central zone, which takes six per cent of the generated power, would encompass Morogoro, Dodoma and Singida regions plus Kiteto District.

Dr Rashid explained that Lindi and Mtwara regions were not mentioned because they would obtain power from the gas-based private independent producers.

Source: Daily News