Pinda upbeat on power supply in SADC...

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda is optimistic that lighting the 1,247,000 square kilometer Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is possible, if only there is favourable investment climate.

In his opening speech at the fifth annual conference of the SADC Regional Electricity Regulators Association (RERA) here yesterday, Pinda said smart partnership was crucial for achieving the goal.

``Sustainable power supply is possible given a good investment climate that allows for a smart partnership between governments, power utilities as well as the private sector in the development and implementation of generation, transmission and distribution programs and projects,`` he said.

The Premier said that with the investment atmosphere supported by co-operation among countries in various regional settings, it was possible to develop effective regional power projects.

If developed, he said, the projects would pave way to creation of large scale programmes, bigger markets, thus making the plan to light the region economically viable.

``Not many countries can have enough financial resources to develop large scale projects alone. Whereas a large scale project may enjoy economies of scale, a country may be faced with the problem of lack of market, if it develops in isolation,`` Pinda said.

He said Africa experienced power shortages mainly due to lack of timely investment, drought and overdependence on hydropower.

``We need to develop the energy resources in the continent such as hydropower, coal, natural gas and other indigenous sources`` PM explained.

Other measures are to implement interconnectivity pools among group of countries as well as creating regional interconnection between region pools.

The current status of power supply within the SADC region, which has installed capacity of 54,742 MW of which only 46,391 MW is available. However the peak demand is about 44,000 MW.

Available records show that although a new generation project amounting to 1,810 MW was commissioned in the region last year, with the reserve margin still deficit against a required reserve margin of 10 percent.

The PM said if the Inga III Project, with capacity to generate over 4,000 MW in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would be jointly developed, it would help a great deal in supporting most of the stunting economies due to lack of power.

Angola, Botswana, Namibia, the DRC and South Africa formed Westcor, as a joint venture company, which seeks to exploit the potential in hydropower offered by the Inga River.

``The Grand Inga scheme with capacity of 39,000MW, but if also jointly developed, could serve the big part south of the Sahara Region, northern Africa and even feed surplus power into Southern Europe,`` Pinda said.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN, November 13, 2008

Pinda ataka wawekazajii wa umeme

WAZIRI Mkuu wa Tanzania, Mizengo Pinda amezita nchi wananchama wa Mamlaka za Udhibiti wa Huduma za Umeme Kusini mwa Afrika (Rera) kuvuta wawekezaji katika sekta ya umeme ili kuondoa tatizo kubwa la umeme linalozikumba nchi wanachama wa Jumuiya ya Biashara Kusini mwa Afrika (SADC).

Pinda aliishauri Rara kuweka mikakati imara

itakayozewezesha nchi wanachama kupunguza tatizo la upatikanaji wa nishati hiyo kwa sababu inawezekama juhudi na maarifa vikifanyika.

Waziri Pindi alitoa changamoto hiyo jana wakati akifungua Mkutano wa Tano wa Mwaka wa Rare unaofanyika katika

Kituo cha Mikutano cha Kimataifa cha Arusha (AICC).

“Afrika ndiyo yenye kiwango kidogo cha upatikanaji wa umeme ambacho ni sawa na asilimia 25 tu, hali mbaya zaidi ni vijijini ambapo wakazi zaidi ya asilimia 75

huishi ambao hupata umeme wa asilimia mbili tu,” alisema Waziri.

Alitoa mfano wa Nchi za SADC ambazo zilipigania Uhuru wa Nchi hizo na kufanikiwa na kwamba iwapo Nchi hizo

zitaunganisha nguvu zao kwa kugawana vyanzo hivyo ni wazi watashinda.

Baadhi ya changamoto alizozitoa Waziri Mkuu katika kukabiliana na tatizo hilo ni kupanua huduma hizo kwa

kutumia nguvu za maji, makaa ya mawe, gesi asilia na mafuta.

Pia alizitaka nchi wananchama wa jumuiy hiyo kukabiliana na changamoto kadhaa kama uhaba fedha kwa ajili ya kugharamia miradi hiyo, ufundi, miundombinu na kuepukana na utegemezi zaidi katika umeme unaotokana na maji ambao sasa si wa uhakika.

Naye Waziri wa Nishati na Madini,

William Ngeleja alisema lengo kuu ni kuangalia ni jinsi ya kuunganisha nguvu katika kukabiliana na tatizo hilo.

“Ni wakati muafaka kwa nchi zetu kuhakikisha kwamba huduma

hiyo inaboreshwa na inakuwa endelevu,” alisema Ngeleja.

Awali, Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Mamla ya Udhibiti wa Maji na Nishati (Ewura), Simon Sayore alisema lengo ni kuhakikisha kuwa tatizo la uhaba wa umeme

katika nchi hizo.

Mkutano huo unawakutanisha wadau 150 wa kutoka nchi wanachana wa Rera na wasiowanachama kutoka nchi za Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Nigeria, Lesotho, Afrika Kusini, Namibia, USA, Norway, Madagascar, Angola,

Botwsana, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

source: Mwananchi, November 13, 2008

Tanzania kuanzisha miradi ya uzalishaji umeme

TANZANIA ipo katika mchakato wa kuanzisha mikataba kwa ajili ya miradi midogo midogo ya kuzalisha umeme usiozidi megawati 10.

Mkurugenzi wa Umeme wa Mamlaka ya Udhibiti wa Huduma za Nishati na Maji (EWURA), Anastas Mbawala, alibainisha hilo jana alipozungumza na waandishi wa habari kuhusu uanzishaji wa miradi midogo midogo ya kuzalisha umeme inayotokana na maji, jua, mabaki ya bidhaa na upepo.

Alisema Tanzania ina vyanzo vingi vya kuzalisha, umeme lakini havijatumika ipasavyo na EWURA wamedhamiria kufufua utumiaji wa vyanzo hivyo kwa kuanza kuandaa mikataba iatakayokuwa bora zaidi na yenye kudhibiti vitendo vya rushwa na ufisadi wakati wa kuingia mikataba ya umeme.

Alisema mikataba ya miradi hiyo midogo midogo itaandaliwa na bei na mwekezaji atakuja nchini huku akijua thamani ya mradi na wala si kujadili gharama kama ilivyo hivi sasa.

“Tunayo maeneo mengi ambayo yanaweza kuzalisha umeme wa kutosha, lakini kutokana na kutokuwa kwa mipango mizuri ya uendelezaji na mikataba wananchi hukosa umeme kutoka katika vyanzo hivyo,” alisema Mbawala.

Alisema uandaaji wa makataba huo na uingiaji wa mkataba baina ya mwekezaji na serikali utajulikana kwa wananchi kwani watapata nafasi ya kutoa maoni yao ndani ya siku 21 na baada ya hapo EWURA itayachukua maoni hayo.

Aliongeza kuwa gharama hizo za mradi zitakuwa zikiangaliwa kila mwaka, ili kuendana na kupanda kwa gharama au mabadiliko ya aina yoyote ambayo hutokea mara kwa mara.

Alisema kampuni zinazozalisha umeme huo zitaweza kuuuza katika Shirika la Ugavi wa Umeme Tanzania (Tanesco) na kuingizwa katika gridi ya taifa na hivyo kusaidia kupunguza tatizo la kutokuwapo kwa umeme wa kutosha.

Alibainisha kuwa kukamilika kwa mchakato huo kutasaidia kwa kiasi kikubwa maeneo ya vijijini kupata umeme wa uhakika kwani kuna baadhi ya sehemu hawawezi kuzalisha umeme mwingi na kuliepusha taifa na matatizo ya uhaba wa umeme unaotokea mara kwa mara.

Source: Tanzania Daima, November 6, 2008

Energy sources framework ready

The government has unveiled the Small Power Projects Framework, meant for use in developing private renewable energy sources particularly in rural areas.

The aim is to help the ailing state-run Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) in electrifying rural areas.

Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) Director of Electricity Anastas Mbawala told reporters at the unveiling ceremony in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the framework was developed by the Energy and Minerals ministry with World Bank assistance through a consultative process that involved all stakeholders.

He said the framework would benefit rural-based electricity consumers, Tanesco and private investors, particularly local entrepreneurs.

According to the Ewura official, the framework would promote the participation of private investors in the development of electricity projects of at most 10MW capacity as defined in the Electricity Act of 2008.

He said implementation of the projects would cover small hydro-power plants, industrial and agricultural waste as well as wind and co-generation.

Mbawala elaborated that the framework would involve the Standard Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) that would be signed between a buyer and the developer and a standard tariff methodology to be applied.

``The SPPA is simplified with standard clauses which reduce negotiating time and cost before signing the agreement. The tariff will be applicable for small power projects and will be calculated annually by a working group and submitted to Ewura for approval,`` he said.

Ewura Director General Haruna Masebu explained that the framework would simplify investment procedure and clear doubts, particularly as related to the signing of new contracts.

Meanwhile, the Ewura board of directors met yesterday to discuss how to deal with oil dealers who have defied the watchdog agency`s order to cut oil prices in line with the decline in world market prices.

Last week, Ewura gave the oil companies one week to lower pump prices in consonance with trend in the world market.

Masebu said the deadline ends today but there was no sign by yesterday that the companies would meet it.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN, Nov 6, 2008

JK furious over state of IPTL

President Jakaya Kikwete has ordered the immediate resumption of the process meant to see the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) plant in Dar es Salaam turn from diesel to gas in the generation of electricity.

He issued the order in the city yesterday after being briefed on the IPTL project by Energy and Minerals minister William Ngeleja at a ceremony to inaugurate a 100MW gas-fired power plant at Ubungo.

The President expressed grave concern and surprise over the ministry`s decision to suspend the process, which was initiated about three years ago.

In brief remarks on the project, the minister had explained that the process was halted because there was a pending court case on the matter.

Malaysia`s Mechmar Corporation, the majority shareholder in IPTL, instituted arbitration proceedings in 2002 against the state-owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) and the government over, among other things, non-payment of capacity charges.

But President Kikwete was unhappy with the minister`s explanation that the government had suspended the process, designed to see the first privately owned power generation plant in Tanzania start using the country`s rich natural gas deposits to generate power.

``Converting IPTL power generators from using diesel to gas is a process of fundamental importance which should not be stopped because it stands to lead to a five-fold reduction in power generation expenses,`` observed the President.

The decision to convert the IPTL generators was made by the government despite a pending legal dispute pitting it against the plant`s owners.

President Kikwete underlined the fact that the ongoing legal wrangle could take very long to resolve, which would mean consumers continuing to bear needlessly high electricity charges.

He said Tanzania was experiencing ever rising demand for electricity and needed strategies with which to address the problem more comprehensively and effectively than has hitherto been the case.

``One of the government`s plans is to reduce dependence on hydro electricity in preference for other sources of power, evidence of whose implementation is today`s launch of this 99.4bn/- plant,`` he elaborated.

The President assured Tanesco, which will operate the plant, of continued government support.

He promised to use his experience as a former Finance Minister to seek funds the ailing utility company could invest in new power generation and supply projects.

Tanesco managing director Idris Rashidi had earlier told the President that they were committed to making the country depend as little on hydro-electric power generation as practicable.

He said that, as part of the firm`s diversification plans, another 45MW gas-fired plant has been commissioned and was expected to be operational by early next year.

Dr Rashidi explained that Tanesco had already approved the Kinyerezi 240MW gas-fired electricity generation project and a Tanzanian contractor, Pan Africa Company Limited, had been earmarked for the work under the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) arrangement.

He noted that a number of power generation projects were still at the discussion stage or under the first phase of implementation.

They include the 60MW heavy oil Mwanza one, the 200MW Kiwira coal-fired one expected to become operational between 2010 and 2011, and the 50MW Singida wind-generated one.

According to the Tanesco MD, the 200-300MW Mnazi Bay project now being discussed by the government and the contractor (Artumas Company) could become operational in 2012.

It would supply electricity to both the southern regions and the national grid.

Among Tanesco�s other plans are the construction of transmission lines like the 650-km 400Kv one linking Mwanza to Shinyanga and the 500-km 400Kv one to run from Chalinze to Arusha via Hale to boost power supply in Tanga Region.

Minister Ngeleja said the government was keen to make electricity more accessible to wananchi, thus facilitating their implementation of profitable projects that would help eradicate poverty.

``Electricity is a crucial input in the government`s efforts to eradicate poverty. The inauguration of this 100MW plant, whose power will feed into the national grid, is testimony to this determination,`` he noted.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN, November 5, 2008

Kikwete kuzindua kituo cha umeme wa gesi

RAIS Jakaya Kikwete leo anatarajiwa kuzindua kituo cha kuzalishia umeme wa gesi jijini Dar es Salaam.

Kituo hicho kinachomilikiwa na Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (Tanesco) kimejengwa kwa ufadhili wa serikali kwa kutumia kampuni ya M/s Lahmeyer International ya Ujerumani ikisaidiwa na kampuni ya M/s Watsila Oy ya Finland kwa ushauri.

Kwa mujibu wa meneja uhusiano wa Tanesco, Badra Masoud, kituo kilianza kujengwa rasmi Septemba 21, 2006 baada ya kusainiwa kwa mkataba kati ya shiria hilo na Watsila ya Finland Juni 20 2006.

Alifafanua kuwa ujenzi wa mradi huu ulitumia Euro 60,272,250,00 ambazo ni sawa na Sh 99,450,000,000.00 za Kitanzania na kwamba mradi huo ulihusisha uhandisi sanifu, kuleta na kufunga mitambo itumiayo gesi kuzalisha umeme.

Alisema kituo hicho chenye mashine 12 za kuzalisha umeme aina ya 20v 34Sg kutoka Finland ambazo kila mashine moja ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 8.75. Ujenzi wake ulikamilika Septemba 24 2007 na kufanyiwa majaribio Julai 30 mwaka huu.

Masoud alisema kituo hicho kinazalisha megawati 103 za umeme na kuingiza kwenye gridi ya taifa ambazo ni sawa na asilimia 15 hadi 20 za umeme wote unaosambazwa hapa nchini.

Source: Mwananchi, Nov 4, 2008