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By Queenter Mawinda, Dar es Salaam
The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) is currently incapable of repairing one of the damaged machines at the Kidatu hydropower station saying the process to revive the machine is still a work in progress.
A nearly total blackout on Friday left many people puzzled of whether the blackout was just accidental or was done purposely considering that all ears and eyes were directed to the National Assembly in Dodoma where the IPTL Tegeta escrow account saga was being debated.
The Guardian on Sunday consulted TANESCO Managing Director Eng. Felichemi Mramba who confirmed that the power blackout was due to grid failure.
However Mramba could not dwell into details and directed the reporter to the Public Relation Officer (PRO) for clarification.
The Guardian on Sunday reached TANESCO PRO Severine Adrian who affirmed that the Friday blackout was due to a fault at the Ubungo power plant and the damaged machine at Kidatu hydropower station with a capacity of producing 50 Megawatts (MW).
Kidatu hydropower station comprises four machines with the capability of producing 204Megawatts (MW) for the national grid.
On Wednesday technicians ascertained the problem in one of the machines with the capacity of producing 50 MW.
As a result the remaining three machines were incapable of producing sufficient power to supply across the country, he said, noting that TANESCO was forced to compensate the 50 MW losses by power cuts across the country to reduce the load on the grid.
Since Kidatu hydropower station is the country’s main power generation plant it was inevitable to effect power rationing and hence forced to cut power in some areas around the country to cover the loss.
However, with efforts put forward they have succeeded to reduce the 50 MW lost o 30MW by increasing the production of electricity at Mtera hydropower station and reservoir.
Technicians worked out an arrangement that would see the machine restored but the process to revive the machine is still in progress, he said.
Engineers from Kihansi hydropower station and from headquarters were sent there to address the problem and consulted the machine producer for more solutions, the official noted.
He disclaimed rumours roaming in the country that the power blackout was connected with the hot parliamentary agenda of the Tegeta Escrow account emptying.
Spreading rumours that TANESCO cut off power because they didn’t want the public to witness what was being discussed in the National Assembly regarding the Escrow saga were just that, rumours.
The power cut was due to a fault at Ubungo Power station which resulted in all regions that are connected to the national grid to experience the power shortage.
He urged the public not to be alarmed by the situation and instead remain calm as TANESCO technicians strengthen efforts to ensure availability of electricity at all times across the country.
The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) is currently incapable of repairing one of the damaged machines at the Kidatu hydropower station saying the process to revive the machine is still a work in progress.
A nearly total blackout on Friday left many people puzzled of whether the blackout was just accidental or was done purposely considering that all ears and eyes were directed to the National Assembly in Dodoma where the IPTL Tegeta escrow account saga was being debated.
The Guardian on Sunday consulted TANESCO Managing Director Eng. Felichemi Mramba who confirmed that the power blackout was due to grid failure.
However Mramba could not dwell into details and directed the reporter to the Public Relation Officer (PRO) for clarification.
The Guardian on Sunday reached TANESCO PRO Severine Adrian who affirmed that the Friday blackout was due to a fault at the Ubungo power plant and the damaged machine at Kidatu hydropower station with a capacity of producing 50 Megawatts (MW).
Kidatu hydropower station comprises four machines with the capability of producing 204Megawatts (MW) for the national grid.
On Wednesday technicians ascertained the problem in one of the machines with the capacity of producing 50 MW.
As a result the remaining three machines were incapable of producing sufficient power to supply across the country, he said, noting that TANESCO was forced to compensate the 50 MW losses by power cuts across the country to reduce the load on the grid.
Since Kidatu hydropower station is the country’s main power generation plant it was inevitable to effect power rationing and hence forced to cut power in some areas around the country to cover the loss.
However, with efforts put forward they have succeeded to reduce the 50 MW lost o 30MW by increasing the production of electricity at Mtera hydropower station and reservoir.
Technicians worked out an arrangement that would see the machine restored but the process to revive the machine is still in progress, he said.
Engineers from Kihansi hydropower station and from headquarters were sent there to address the problem and consulted the machine producer for more solutions, the official noted.
He disclaimed rumours roaming in the country that the power blackout was connected with the hot parliamentary agenda of the Tegeta Escrow account emptying.
Spreading rumours that TANESCO cut off power because they didn’t want the public to witness what was being discussed in the National Assembly regarding the Escrow saga were just that, rumours.
The power cut was due to a fault at Ubungo Power station which resulted in all regions that are connected to the national grid to experience the power shortage.
He urged the public not to be alarmed by the situation and instead remain calm as TANESCO technicians strengthen efforts to ensure availability of electricity at all times across the country.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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