Dar rejects Tanesco tariff rates hike

MOVE by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to raise tariff rates and connection fees received a blow yesterday after all stakeholders rejected the proposal sent to the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA).

EWURA Consumer Consultative Council and Government Consultative Council was firm like most other stakeholders in the meeting which was organised by the former to seek public opinion in Dar es Salaam.

They said the power utility’s move to hike tariff rates and fees would adversely affect the public, industrial sector, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow and lower customers’ base and revenue. TANESCO had proposed to increase tariff rates by 40 per cent and connection fees by between 196 and 280 per cent—which has caused huge public outcry challenging the firm’s proposals.

Presenting EWURA Consumer Consultative Council official stand, the Vice-Chairman, Mr Said Mohammed, said the council does not see any logic for TANESCO to hike connection charges from 280,000/- to 1.06m/- without submitting to EWURA a proper cost for purchasing equipment used for connections.

Mr Mohammed said the council had recognised that failure to collect its debts from customers, vandalism in infrastructure; thefts and electricity loss were among reasons for failure to operate efficiently.

He also cited the expensive contracts of Independent Power Tanzania Ltd (IPTL) and Songas as among the heaviest burdens thrown onto TANESCO adding that it was unfair for such burdens to be passed onto ordinary consumers.

TANESCO pays ITPL about 3bn/- every month regardless of whether the electricity is consumed or not. “TANESCO failed to submit to EWURA its master plan that would give a detailed analysis of the cost of services they are going to offer and failure to do so has made the Council also fail to satisfy itself on the viability of their programme,” said Mr Mohammed.

The Council also challenged TANESCO to reduce unnecessary expenses that have made the firm’s operational costs to continue skyrocketing which in the end affect the ordinary consumer. The Chairman for Power Crisis Committee from Tanzania Confederation of Industries (CTI), Mr Focus Laswai, advised the government to buy-off IPTL immediately and not by 2009 as earlier proposed.

The Chairperson of Government Consultative Council, Ms Juliana Lema, said the TANESCO request on tariff increase gives the council a hard time, and raised a lot of questions on how to advise EWURA board of Directors on the matter. “This is because TANESCO has failed to show us how they arrived at 40 per cent tariff rates increase while connection fees go up to between 196 and 280 per cent,” said Ms Lema.

She said the performance of TANESCO in collecting bills continued to go down whereby in 2004 it collected 108 per cent, dropping to 97 per cent and 87 per cent in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

“This trend goes contrary to the utility’s expectation to collect revenue of 96 per cent in the coming five years (2007-2011). The Council is keen to understand the programmes put in place to reverse this situation,” she said adding; “The Council would like TANESCO to state categorically whether or not the increase will affect the industrial sector in the East African market and if the country will remain favourable for FDI especially in the sector”.

Closing the meeting, the EWURA Director General, Mr Haruna Masebu, said they are going to make decisions based on the stakeholders’ opinion saying any dissatisfied party would be free to appeal before Fair Competition Tribunal.

Dar es Salaam was the last point for EWURA to seek public opinion on the matter after convening such meetings in Mbeya, Dodoma, Arusha and Mwanza --representing various zones in the country.

Source: Daily News, 23/11/2007

Umeme wazidi kuleta kilio

MPANGO wa Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (Tanesco) kutaka kupandisha gharama za umeme umezidi kupingwa na wadau mbalimbali, huku wakidai uzembe wa wafanyakazi wa shirika hilo kushindwa kukusanya madeni ndiyo chanzo cha shirika kushindwa kujiendesha kibiashara.

Wadau hao ambao walizungumza jana kwenye mikutano iliyoitishwa na Mamlaka ya Udhibiti wa Nishati na Maji (Ewura) katika mikoa ya Mwanza na Arusha, walisema shirika hilo sasa linataka kuficha udhaifu, kuwatupia mzigo wananchi na kuwaongezea machungu na makali ya maisha.

Tanesco imependekeza kuongeza bei ya kuunganishiwa umeme na malipo ya ankara kwa asilimia 40 mwakani.

Wadau wanadai iwapo gharama hizo zitapanda, umeme utakuwa ni anasa kwa Watanzania, huku wananchi wa vijijini wataendelea kuishi bila kupatiwa huduma hiyo.

Kati ya Watanzania milioni 38 ni asilimia saba tu ambao wanatumia nishati hiyo huku maeneo mengi ya vijijini hawana huduma hiyo.

Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Ushauri la Watumiaji wa Huduma za Umeme, Profesa Jamidu Katima, alisema katika maombi ya Tanesco kwa Mamlaka ya Udhibiti wa Huduma za Nishati na Maji (Ewura) kuiruhusu ipandishe gharama za umeme haikuwasilisha mchanganuo unaotakiwa.

Akizungumza katika mkutano uliofanyika mjini Mwanza, Profesa Katima alisema Tanesco imeomba kupandisha ankara ya umeme kwa asilimia 40 na gharama za kuunganisha umeme asilimia 196 na 281 bila kuambatanisha mchanganuo mzima.

“Kama hivyo ni kweli baraza halioni ni vipi gharama za kuunganisha wateja zipandishwe, mfano service line ya njia tatu ipande kutoka Sh 280,000 hadi Sh 1,065,735,” alisema Katima na kuongeza kuwa shirika hilo lilipaswa kuwasilisha mchanganuo unaoonyesha gharama halali za kununulia vifaa kuonyesha uhalali wa ongezeko waliloliomba.

Alisema baraza hilo limeona gharama kubwa za uendeshaji ambazo zinaonekana ni za Tanesco, hasa katika maeneo ya kushindwa kukusanya madeni, hujuma kwenye miundombinu, wizi na upotevu wa umeme ambao kwa sasa ni zaidi ya asilimia 24 tofauti na kiwango kinachokubalika cha kimataifa cha asilimia 12.

Tatizo jingine la shirika hilo ni kuingia mikataba ghali ya IPTL na umeme wa Songas na kwa mantiki hiyo si haki kuwabebesha mzigo huo watumiaji. “Tanesco walitakiwa wawasilishe mpango kabambe wa shirika ukionyesha hali halisi, lakini haukuwasilishwa,” alisema.

Profesa Katima alisema kushindwa kwa shirika hilo kutoa mchanganuo wa gharama za kutoa huduma za umeme na kushindwa kuwasilisha mpango kabambe, baraza hilo limeshindwa kujiridhisha na mikakati ambayo Tanesco imejiwekea ya kupunguza gharama zisizo za lazima.

Alisema kwa kuwa shirika hilo linaona yupo mtu wa kulipia gharama hizo, halitoweza kuona umuhimu wa kupunguza hizo gharama na ndiyo maana makadirio yake yanazidi kupanda mwaka hadi mwaka katika mpango wake ambao uko hadi mwaka 2012.

Mwenyekiti huyo alisema ankara zilizopendekezwa na shirika hilo zimeonyesha kuwa baadhi ya makundi ya watumiaji wa umeme yanafidiwa na makundi mengine kwa maana hiyo kuna usiri fulani.

“Kwa kuwa wengi wa watumiaji wa makundi hayo ni wazalishaji wa viwanda, baraza lina hofu kuwa bidhaa zinazozalishwa na viwanda zitakuwa za bei kubwa na hivyo kuathiri watu wa kawaida,” alisema.

Mjini Arusha Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Watumiaji Umeme mkoani humo, Mhandisi Mubezi Deogratius Lutaihwa alisema haoni sababu ya Tanesco kupandisha bei ya umeme kwa asilimia 40, kwani utendaji kazi wa shirika hilo ndiyo kikwazo cha kushindwa kufanya kazi kibiashara na kupata faida.

“Kwanza takwimu nyingi zilizoelezwa hapa zina dosari nyingi na walipaswa kuandaa masterplan (mpango kabambe) ya mpango wa maendeleo yao badala tarakimu hizi ambazo zinazua maswali mengi zaidi,” alisema.

Meneja wa Kiwanda cha mbao cha Fibreboard Ltd, Spous Mushi alisema mpango huo utaleta madhara makubwa kwa uchumi, kwani wamiliki wa viwanda watalazimika kupunguza idadi kubwa ya wafanyakazi wao.

“Hii italeta madhara kwani watakaopunguzwa wanaweza kujiingiza katika vitendo vya uhalifu kama ujambazi na unyang’anyi kutokana na kukosa ajira, lakini wanawake walioajiriwa waliopunguzwa wanaweza kuwa machangudoa,” alisema huku akishangiliwa na watu walihudhuria mkutano huo.

Naye Mwenyekiti wa Shirikisho la Wenye Viwanda mkoani hapa (CTI), Anup Modha alitaka shirika hilo liache kuendeshwa kisiasa na kuingia mikataba ya biashara ambayo ina hasara.

Alisema haoni kwa nini mzigo huo ulipwe na wateja wa kawaida kwa kuwapandishia bei ya umeme.

Naye Ibrahim Hasi, ambaye ni Mwenyekiti wa Mtaa wa Nyerere mjini Mwanza, alisema shirika hilo lingejaribu kuweka utaratibu kama wa Mamlaka za Maji nchini ambao umeweka viwango tofauti kwa kila mdau kwa watumiaji wa nyumbani na viwandani kabla ya kupandisha bei.

Source: Habari Leo, 20/11/2007

Hiked power tariff coming

The Tanzania`s power utility company (Tanesco) has submitted to the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) an application for a 40 per cent tariff adjustment for the transitory period 2008-2009.

This is partly due to World Bank and IMF pressure on the Tanzanian government to remove subsidies on the energy sector, starting with the next financial year.

Talking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the company`s Managing Director,Dr. Idris Rashid said:
``The new charges will enable the company set its steady tariffs based on costs reflecting efficient sustainable provision of services under its responsibility.``

He said the newly proposed tariffs would permit Tanesco to meet its operating costs for power generation, transmission, distribution plus a targeted allowance for capital expenditures.

According to Dr. Rashid, last year`s records from Tanesco audited accounts indicate that the firm was under-recovering its cost of services by 118 per cent.

``And if the company were to fully recover its costs of service, last year�s tariff would have increased by 118 percent.``

He, however, said: ``Tanesco is cognizant that the proposed increase is high and will have an adverse impact on its customers, hence has explored with the government alternatives that could reduce the impact of the tariff increase.``

``There is no way we must operate our company commercially rather than before. This will make us deliver improved and competitive services to our customers,`` he added.

``The average tariff in the year 2006 was 84/- per Kwh whereby the average cost was 183/- per Kwh, 99/- was under-recovery and the loss was 183 bn/-,`` Dr. Rashid said.

He added that the accumulated loss up to 2006 was 677 bn/- due to heavy use of higher cost thermoelectric generation caused by drought.

During the first nine months of 2007, the company`s loss amounted to 58 bn/-.

``Shortfall are either covered by bank borrowing, late payments to suppliers and direct or indirect subsidy from the Government budget.

Collected revenues are insufficient to achieve improvement required in our power facilities; and performance of the company is below industrial standards,`` he said.

Starting this year`s financial budget, the government will not subsidize Tanesco for operating costs, except 18bn/- for part of IPTL capacity charges.

He said the average cost per unit for the past three years had not been verging, making Tanesco unable to raise enough money to meet its exact cost of service.

He said the skyrocketing of petroleum products and inflation would make Tanesco have periodic adjustments on its tariffs.

``Under this new proposed adjustment, we want to have bi-annual adjustment to cover fuel costs, exchange rates and annual adjustment to cover inflation rates.``

``Even the new proposed 40 per cent tariffs will not make Tanesco meet its operation costs but rather it will continue adjusting over time,`` Dr. Idris Rashid said.

He said time had come for the public and customers to pay real tariff`s charges and make the company provide improved services by improving its infrastructures and meet the customer`s demands.

Over dependency on hydro generation, inability to connect new customers, poor quality of supply, poor customer services, dilapidated and overloaded network as well as vandalism and energy theft were some of the key challenges locking the company to prosper. Other challenges include corruption and high material costs.

The company`s management also appealed to Ewura to provide guidance on establishing a steady state tariff setting system that will allow Tanesco to recover both operating and capital costs based on efficient operations as well as return on investment.

On the service line charges, Dr. Rashid said the proposed charges would remain intact as material costs have increased by over 100 per cent.

``For the past four years, Tanesco has not increased its service line connection charges and material costs have increased by over 100 per cent.

All these costs are not covered by tariffs and the company is obliged to recover the full cost from its customers.``

He said the price of service line materials had increased due to higher shipment and other transportation costs, inflation, exchange rate changes and metal prices.

``With exception of energy meters, customers could opt to purchase materials and Tanesco would charge labour costs only. Tanesco will be providing standards and specifications,`` he said.

From November 19 - 23, this year Tanesco will be undergoing public hearing on the new proposed tariffs and service line charges across the country.

The public hearing is aimed at informing its customers and the public on reasons behind the newly proposed tariffs which waits for Ewura`s approval for implementations.

It is barely a week since Tanesco hiked 100 per cent of its service line connection charges to its new customers; a move that hit a snag as Ewura intervened; asking the power utility firm to provide through explanation over the new charges increase.

Source: Guardian, 20/11/2007

Hiked power tariff coming

Hiked power tariff coming


The Tanzania`s power utility company (Tanesco) has submitted to the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) an application for a 40 per cent tariff adjustment for the transitory period 2008-2009.

This is partly due to World Bank and IMF pressure on the Tanzanian government to remove subsidies on the energy sector, starting with the next financial year.

Talking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the company`s Managing Director,Dr. Idris Rashid said:
``The new charges will enable the company set its steady tariffs based on costs reflecting efficient sustainable provision of services under its responsibility.``

He said the newly proposed tariffs would permit Tanesco to meet its operating costs for power generation, transmission, distribution plus a targeted allowance for capital expenditures.

According to Dr. Rashid, last year`s records from Tanesco audited accounts indicate that the firm was under-recovering its cost of services by 118 per cent.

``And if the company were to fully recover its costs of service, last year�s tariff would have increased by 118 percent.``

He, however, said: ``Tanesco is cognizant that the proposed increase is high and will have an adverse impact on its customers, hence has explored with the government alternatives that could reduce the impact of the tariff increase.``

``There is no way we must operate our company commercially rather than before. This will make us deliver improved and competitive services to our customers,`` he added.

``The average tariff in the year 2006 was 84/- per Kwh whereby the average cost was 183/- per Kwh, 99/- was under-recovery and the loss was 183 bn/-,`` Dr. Rashid said.

He added that the accumulated loss up to 2006 was 677 bn/- due to heavy use of higher cost thermoelectric generation caused by drought.

During the first nine months of 2007, the company`s loss amounted to 58 bn/-.

``Shortfall are either covered by bank borrowing, late payments to suppliers and direct or indirect subsidy from the Government budget.

Collected revenues are insufficient to achieve improvement required in our power facilities; and performance of the company is below industrial standards,`` he said.

Starting this year`s financial budget, the government will not subsidize Tanesco for operating costs, except 18bn/- for part of IPTL capacity charges.

He said the average cost per unit for the past three years had not been verging, making Tanesco unable to raise enough money to meet its exact cost of service.

He said the skyrocketing of petroleum products and inflation would make Tanesco have periodic adjustments on its tariffs.

``Under this new proposed adjustment, we want to have bi-annual adjustment to cover fuel costs, exchange rates and annual adjustment to cover inflation rates.``

``Even the new proposed 40 per cent tariffs will not make Tanesco meet its operation costs but rather it will continue adjusting over time,`` Dr. Idris Rashid said.

He said time had come for the public and customers to pay real tariff`s charges and make the company provide improved services by improving its infrastructures and meet the customer`s demands.

Over dependency on hydro generation, inability to connect new customers, poor quality of supply, poor customer services, dilapidated and overloaded network as well as vandalism and energy theft were some of the key challenges locking the company to prosper. Other challenges include corruption and high material costs.

The company`s management also appealed to Ewura to provide guidance on establishing a steady state tariff setting system that will allow Tanesco to recover both operating and capital costs based on efficient operations as well as return on investment.

On the service line charges, Dr. Rashid said the proposed charges would remain intact as material costs have increased by over 100 per cent.

``For the past four years, Tanesco has not increased its service line connection charges and material costs have increased by over 100 per cent.

All these costs are not covered by tariffs and the company is obliged to recover the full cost from its customers.``

He said the price of service line materials had increased due to higher shipment and other transportation costs, inflation, exchange rate changes and metal prices.

``With exception of energy meters, customers could opt to purchase materials and Tanesco would charge labour costs only. Tanesco will be providing standards and specifications,`` he said.

From November 19 - 23, this year Tanesco will be undergoing public hearing on the new proposed tariffs and service line charges across the country.

The public hearing is aimed at informing its customers and the public on reasons behind the newly proposed tariffs which waits for Ewura`s approval for implementations.

It is barely a week since Tanesco hiked 100 per cent of its service line connection charges to its new customers; a move that hit a snag as Ewura intervened; asking the power utility firm to provide through explanation over the new charges increase.

Source: Guardian, 20/11/2007

Mkinga district to get reliable power

MKINGA district villages in Tanga region will get reliable electricity under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project, the Minister for Energy and Minerals Nazir Karamagi told the House yesterday.

Mr Karamagi named the villages as Daluni, Gombero and Kwale. He said 292,564,092/- has been earmarked for the project.

“Our efforts to supply power to the villages have finally paid dividends,” said the minister when assuring Mr Mbaruk Mwandoro (CCM-Mkinga of power to the villages.

The MP had asked when the government would provide power to the villages since the pledge to do so in 2003 had not been fulfilled.

The minister said implementation of the project to involve installation of power lines, transformers and other infrastructure start this financial year.

The MCC’s Board of Directors has approved US dollars 698 Million to Tanzania to reduce poverty, stimulate economic growth, and increase household income through targeted infrastructure investments in transport, energy and water.

Source: Daily News, 17/11/2007

Huge bio-diesel investment boon to national economy

As fossil fuel prices keep on rising daily and global concerns for enhanced use of greener energy become ever more omnipresent, investments in alternative liquid bio-fuels are also becoming attractive.

In Tanzania, a growing interest by corporations to invest in Jatropha farming has lately been gaining ground.

A firm named Export Trading Company Limited claims has invested about USD25m for cultivating 12,000 hectors of bio-diesel yielding Jatropha plantation in Mbarali district, Mbeya region.

Our Special Correspondent Prosper Makene caught up with John Beverley, Estate Manager and discussed issues related to growing bio-fuel industry.

Q: Why did Export Trading have to take such huge land area for Jatropha project?

A: We need to produce bio-diesel on a large scale so that by 2010, all diesel-motorcars and machines could reliably use bio-diesel from jatropha seeds.

Our company has started to grow about 12,000 hectors of land but we are still talking with the government with the aim getting another 50,000 hectors so as to benefit from scale economies.

Our achievement would also translate into national gains, as the economy will save on scarce foreign exchange now spent on importation of fossil diesels from overseas.

How many decent jobs could this epic project generate?
Export Trading is expecting to employ more than 5000 people for the various plantation works and we want to be sure that on or after 2010, we can supply entire national fuel demand and compete with imported fossil fuel products.

To what extent do Tanzania`s physical conditions support jatropha plantation industry?
Tanzania is second to Mali as African pioneers in the use of bio-diesel.

It is understood that jatropha, an inedible crop, is drought resistant plant, and can grow well on lands considered unsuitable for agriculture.

Although Jatropha is commonly planted in Southern America, India and Mali but our research on cultivation and propagation of Jatropha in Tanzania would most likely make our project very successful in short time.

Our results indicate that manure has a positive impact on the growth rate once germination begins. Likewise, the intensity of watering and temperature seems to have a fundamental impact on the germination rate.

What are the other traditional benefits could jatropha render to communities?

The plant has been mostly used by farmers as living fences around their homesteads and gardens, sometimes also around their fields, to protect crops against roaming animals but in Tanzania jatropha is called \'mbono makaburi\' which means plants allocated for the burial ground .

The seeds for a long time did not play any important role, the reason why farmers cannot tell which ones are good yielding plants.

Since flowers of the jatropha plant are only developed terminally, only plants bearing many branches, i.e. with a good ramification, can produce lots of fruits. A good plant should have bunches of jatropha fruits at every end of a branch.

Usually jatropha plants are multiplied by cuttings, because this kind of multiplication is faster than through seed germination. The yields of plantations have not been carefully measured up to now.

Since then, triggered by the ever rising fuel prices, various governments have started jatropha projects.

Briefly, why are several African countries are now resorting to bio-energy especially from jatropha?

The consumption and demand for the petroleum products are increasing every year due to increase in population, standards of living and urbanization.

Diesel consumption pattern especially in Tanzania has not varied much. The increase in fossil oil importation drains up foreign exchange that could be put to other meaningful development causes.

The UN, governments and green activists across the globe are seriously opting for bio-fuels because they are cleaner sources of energy which do not contribute to global warming.

More importantly, bio-diesel can flexibly be applied on mechanical platforms previously running on fossil fuels.

In developed countries, bio-diesel is produced from soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, peanut, etc., which are essentially edible in the Tanzanian context.

Among the various vegetable oil sources, non-edible oils are suitable for bio-diesel production, because edible oils are already in demand and at times too expensive than fossil diesel fuel.

Among the non-edible oil sources, jatropha shell is identified as potential bio-diesel source as compared with other sources.

It grows rapidly, has higher seed productivity and is suitable for tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Tanzania.

Source: The Guardian, 2007-11-15 09:53:23

JK assures Lindi of reliable power

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to make sure that Lindi Region residents get electricity.

Mr Kikwete gave the assurance yesterday when laying the foundation stone at the Somanga-Sungu power station in the region where he started a six-day official tour of the region.

The contractor of the power station has promised that they would be converting gas into electricity early next year.

The power station will have the capacity to produce six megawatts of electricity that would be supplied to 42 villages in the region. It was earlier slated to start production in April, this year.

Mr Kikwete said the government was committed to uplift the living standards of Tanzanians through the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty and that electricity will come to the region as promised.

The president also handed over fishing equipment to residents of Somanga Village. The equipment has been donated by the World Food Programme.

Source: Daily News; Wednesday,November 14, 2007 @00:02

Mwalimu Andoya aokoa kijiji kwa kubuni mradi wa umeme

KATIKA dunia ya sasa watu wamejaliwa kuwa na vipaji vya aina mbalimbali.

Baadhi ya vipaji hivyo vinaweza kuwaletea maendeleo na vingine vinakosa kuendelezwa, kutokana na kukosekana wafadhili wa kuwasaidia watu wenye vipaji hivyo.

Hivi karibuni, Naibu Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja, alikuwa wilayani Mbinga mkoa wa Ruvuma kujionea hali halisi ya umeme katika wilaya.

Katika safari yake hiyo, Ngeleja alibahatika kukutana na Mkurugenzi wa Mradi wa Ujenzi wa Umeme wa Nguvu ya Maji, Menas Andoya. Mkurugenzi huyo amebuni mradi huo na kuutengeneza katika mto Mtandazi wilayani Mbinga.

Hivi sasa mradi huo unawasaidia wanakijiji hao kukoboa na kusaga nafaka mbalimbali.

Andoya anasema yeye ndiye alibuni mradi huo wa ujenzi wa umeme wa nguvu ya maji. Ulifanyiwa utafiti mwaka 1998 – 2001 na kuupatia jina la Nguvu ya Maji Partnership. Mwaka 2003 mradi huo ulisajiliwa na kuitwa Andoya Hydro Electric Power Co.Limited (AHEPO LTD).

Kitaaluma, Andoya alikuwa mwalimu wa shule ya msingi wilayani humo na baadaye aliamua kujifunza ufundi wa magari.

Ni ufundi huo wa magari ndio uliompatia mwanya wa kuchukuliwa na Mjerumani katika shughuli zake kama fundi magari.

Andoya anasema utaalamu huo ameweza kuupata, kwa sababu alikuwa anafanya kazi na wajerumani.

Anasema kuwa wakati mwingine walikuwa wakikaa maporini, ambapo iliwalazimu kutafuta vyanzo vya mito ili kutengeneza nishati ya umeme, ambayo uliweza kuwasaidia wakiwa huko.

Baada ya muda, Wajerumani hao walirudi kwao na yeye kuamua kurudi kijijini kwake Lufakara, kwa ajili ya kujishughulisha na shughuli nyingine za kumletea kipato.

Andoya anasema kutokana na kupata mbinu mbalimbali za uzalishaji wa umeme, aliweza kubuni mbinu ya kuondoa tatizo la umeme kijijini hapo.

Alianza kwa kufanya utafiti katika misitu na kutembelea vijito mbalimbali, vinavyounganisha mto Mtandazi

Andoya anasema baada ya utafiti huo aliweza kuomba msaada kwa Mhandisi, Godfrey Ndevo, ambaye ni mtaalamu wa mambo ya umemem wa maji.

Ndevo aliweza kumsaidia katika kuhakiki utafiti na kuchukua vipimo vya maporomoko ya maji, kisha kuvipeleka kwa wataalamu wa Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (TANESCO) ili kuthibitisha au kupata uhakika wa utafiti huo.

Andoya anasema mpaka sasa ameweza kutengeneza nguvu ya umeme ya kilowati 30, kwa kutumia nguvu ya maji.

Alifanikisha malengo ya mradi huo, kutokana na ufadhili wa fedha alioupata kutoka kwa Wajerumani, ambao walimpatia kiasi cha Sh milioni 250.

Katika awamu ya kwanza, mradi huo wa umeme wa maji ulikuwa unaendesha mashine za kusaga nafaka na awamu ya pili ilihusu kuwasha taa za umeme wa moja kwa moja, kutokana na betri zinazochajiwa kwa nguvu ya maji. Awamu ya tatu ya mradi huo inahusu kuzalisha umeme, utakaokuwa na nguvu ya megawati 1.2.

Andoya anasema katika kutekeleza mradi huo, amefanikiwa kuanzisha huduma ya kusaga nafaka kwa bei nafuu kutokana na vinu, hivyo kutumia nishati ya nguvu ya maji na mafuta ya dizeli .

Andoya anasema kutokana na nguvu hiyo ya umeme na vinu hivyo, zaidi ya wananchi 600 kutoka vijiji vya Uzena, Mkwaya , Kilimani na Mbangamao, wameweza kunufaika na huduma hiyo.

Aidha, Andoya anasema mashine ya nguvu ya maji aliweza kuiunda mwenyewe, lakini baada ya muda mashine hiyo ilishindwa kufanya kazi, hivyo ilibidi awasiliane na Wajerumani hao na kuweza kumsaidia kumpa mashine ya kuzalisha nguvu ya umeme, ambayo imeweza kumsaidia hadi sasa katika kusaga nafaka kijijini hapo.

Andoya anasema baada ya kutatua tatizo hilo, aliweza kubuni mradi wa pili, ambao ni kuzalisha umeme wa megawati 1.2 kwa kutumia nguvu ya maji.

Andoya anasema anatarajia kuupeleka umeme huo makao makuu ya wilaya hiyo na vijiji vya jirani, ikiwa ni pamoja na kurudisha uoto wa asili kwa kupanda miti na mimea iliyokuwapo awali, hasa kwenye vyanzo vya mito vinavyopeleka maji kwenye mto Mtandazi na kuzunguuka eneo la mradi.

Andoya anasema anasubiri kupata vibali vya serikali ili waweze kuzalisha umeme wa megawati 1.2 .

Andoya anasema sasa hivi anashughulikia kupata kibali kutoka serikalini. Kibali hicho ni cha TANESCO juu ya ununuzi wa umeme huo, kwani TANESCO ndio wenye kibali cha kumiliki umeme huo, hivyo mgunduzi lazima asubiri mazungumzo kati ya TANESCO na serikali ili mgunduzi kukubaliwa kununua umeme huo.

Andoya anasema katika mradi huo, amekwama kupata kibali cha kuutambua mradi huo kutoka Wizara ya Nishati na Madini kupitia TANESCO, ikiwa ni pamoja na cheti cha uhifadhi wa mazingira kutoka Baraza la Taifa la Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC).

Andoya anasema mradi huo umeshafanyiwa upembuzi yakinifu, ikiwa ni pamoja na utafiti wa athari za mazingira (I.E.A), pia una hati miliki za ardhi na maji na kwamba mamlaka za utoaji wa vibali, leseni na ushauri zimeshirikishwa.

Aidha Andoya anasema awamu ya tatu imeshafanyiwa upembuzi yakinifu, ikiwa ni pamoja na utafiti wa athari za mazingira pamoja na hati miliki za ardhi na maji zimekamilika.

Anasema mamlaka za utoaji leseni na ushauri zimearifiwa na kushirikishwa juu ya mradi huo wa umeme .

Andoya anasema mradi huo utakapokamilika utazalisha uniti 8,400,000 za umeme kwa mwaka, ambapo matarajio ya mapato ya mradi huo kwa mwaka ni Sh 648,000,000.

Anasema mradi huo unatarajiwa kuokoa matumizi ya mafuta ya dizeli ya lita 1,900,000 kwa mwaka.

Anasema mradi huo utakapokamilika, serikali itaweza kupata milioni 30 kwa mwaka kama kodi, inayotokana na uzalishaji huo wa nguvu ya maji.

Andoya anasema mpaka sasa ameweza kuwaajiri wafanyakazi watatu, ambao wanamsaidia kutengeneza mashine na kusaga na kukoboa.

Wakati mwingine wateja wanaokwenda kusaga nafaka wakipungua, husaidiana na wafanyakazi hao kupanda miti kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi mazingira.

Andoya anasema ingawa anapata fedha kidogo, kutokana na mashine hizo, lakini bado hali yake ni mbaya, kwani maendeleo yoyote yanahitaji fedha.

Lakini kama Tanesco watakubali kununua umeme huo, ataweza kunufaika kwa asilimia kubwa kimaisha.

Anaeleza kuwa mradi huo unatarajia kuibua ajira binafsi na kusaidia shughuli za viwanda vidogo vidogo, hospitali, maofisi, viwanda vya kukoboa kahawa, kuinua elimu na kuongeza taaluma ya teknolojia, hasa shule za msingi na sekondari za eneo la mradi huo.

Andoya anasema ameshapanda miche 65,000 ya miti mbalimbali kwenye eneo la mradi, ikiwemo miti 15,000 ya asili, ambayo imeoteshwa na kurutubishwa kwenye viriba kutokana na vikonyo na mizizi na pembezoni mwa barabara. Pia miti ya maembe ili wananchi waweze kupata matunda hapo baadaye.

Mwanakijiji wa kijiji cha Lufakara, Hassani Mwanikola, alimshukuru Andoya kwa kuweza kuanzisha mradi huo wa umeme kijijini hapo.

Anasema hapo awali walikuwa wakipata taabu ya kusaga mazao yao, kutokana na umbali uliopo kutoka vijiji hivyo hadi mjini.

Mwanikola anasema wanapokwenda kusaga nafaka zao, wanatozwa fedha kidogo. Anasema wameweza kupunguza safari za kwenda mjini, kutokana na kupata huduma hiyo kijijini hapo.

Kwa upande wake, Ngeleja alimpongeza Andoya kwa kubuni mradi huo, ambao umeweza kuwasaidia wananchi kukoboa nafaka zao na pia kuweza kuwapatia umeme baadhi ya wananchi.

Ngeleja anasema serikali ya Awamu ya Nne inasisitiza na kutambua michango ya wajasiriamali hasa wawekezaji wazalendo, ambao wanawekeza katika nchi yao, badala ya kuwa wafanyakazi kwa wawekezaji wageni.

Hivyo, alimtaka Ndoya kuwa mvumilivu wakati maombi yake ya kupatiwa leseni ya kuzalisha umeme yakishughulikiwa.

Source: HabariLeo; Thursday,November 15, 2007 @00:04

TANESCO yaandaa mikataba kuuziana umeme

Source: Tanzania Daima, 14/11/2007


SHIRIKA la Ugavi Tanzania (TANESCO) kwa ushirikiano na Serikali, linatayarisha mikataba ya msingi ya kununua na kuuziana umeme kwa kupanga bei za umeme katika miradi midogo itakayouza nishati hiyo kwenye gridi ya taifa.

Hayo yalielezwa na Naibu Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja, alipokuwa akijibu swali la msingi la Mbunge wa Hai, Fuya Kimbita (CCM), aliyetaka kujua mikakati ya kuvifufua vituo vidogo vilivyozalisha umeme siku za nyuma katika baadhi ya maeneo nchini.

Alisema, lengo la kuanzisha utaratibu huo ni kuboresha na kurahisishia kampuni binafsi kushiriki katika miradi midogo ya umeme kwa ajili ya kuimarisha upatikanaji wa huduma ya hiyo na kuongeza kasi ya kuwapelekea wananchi wengi mjini na vijijini huduma hiyo.


Awali, TANESCO ilipokea maombi kutoka kwa baadhi ya kampuni binafsi zenye nia ya kufufua vituo vidogo vya kuzalisha umeme wa maji vya Kikuletwa, Tosamaganga na Mbalizi ambapo shirika hilo lilitangaza zabuni hiyo.

Ngeleja, alisema tathmini ya zabuni hiyo ilionyesha kuwa bei za umeme zilizopendekezwa na wazabuni zilikuwa juu hivyo zingesababishia TANESCO kununua umeme huo kwa hasara.

"Kutokana na mazingira ya sasa kuwa tofauti na ya wakati ule ambapo ilionekana ni vigumu kwa shirika hilo kuingia mikataba na wazabuni waliojitokeza kwa sasa shirika hilo na Serikali wanaanzisha utaratibu huu mpya," alisema Ngeleja.

Alisema, baada ya kukamilika kwa utaratibu huo Tanesco watatangaza zabuni ya kupata kampuni bora ambazo zitaendeleza vituo vya Kikuletwa, Tosamaganga na Mbalizi, ili viweze kuchangia ipasavyo maendeleo ya sekta ndogo ya umeme.

TANESCO HAPANA!

Majira

SHIRIKA la Umeme Tanzania (TANESCO) limetangaza gharama mpya za kuwaunganishia umeme wateja wapya.

Katika mabadiliko hayo, gharama za kuunganisha umeme kwa njia moja (single phase) imepanda kutoka sh. 240,000 hadi sh. 563,271.

Mabadiliko hayo ya bei pia ni kwa wanaotaka kuunganishwa umeme wa njia tatu (three phase) ambazo ni kubwa kuliko hizo za single phase.

TANESCO imetoa sababu mbalimbali za kufikia uamuzi huo wa kupandisha gharama hizo za kuunganisha umeme.

Je, kipi kilistahili kuwa cha kwanza kwa TANESCO, kuimarisha huduma zake kwa wateja au kupandisha bei ya huduma inazotoa?

Hilo ndilo swali ambalo bila shaka wananchi wanaotarajia kupata huduma inayotolewa na TANESCO pekee wanajiuliza.

Takwimu zinaonesha ni asilimia kumi tu ya Watanzania ndiyo wanaotumia huduma ya umeme.

Hali hiyo imesababishwa na mambo mbalimbali, moja ikiwa ni kushindwa kumudu gharama za kulipia huduma hiyo ikiwemo ya kuunganishiwa.

Lakini wakati Serikali iko katika kampeni ya kupambana na mazingira ikihamamisha watu waache kutumia kuni na mkaa, TANESCO ndiyo hao wanapandisha gharama za huduma zao.

Kwa hali hiyo ni wazi kuwa kampeni ya kupambana na uhalibifu wa mazingira haitafanikiwa, kwani asilimia ya Watanzania wanaotumia umeme huenda ikashuka badala ya kupanda.

Pamoja ni uamuzi huo wa TANESCO, tunatarajia Mamlaka ya Udhibiti wa Maji na Nishati (EWURA) itasema lolote katika suala hili.

Kama imepitisha bei hizo itakuwa haijatutendea haki wananchi, na kama haijafanya hivyo iingilie kati mara moja.

Source: Majira