Tanzania’s power utility firm Tanesco plans to spend Tsh24 billion ($14.63 million) to replace 3.2 million incandescent bulbs with energy savers in a bid to promote efficient use of power.
The changes will save Tanesco 37.9MW, which is enough to supply Mbeya, a city in southwest Tanzania.
The plan will also involve working with industrialists to move their power demands from peak hours and reducing the use of emergency power during peak hours, which amounts to 100MW, and save the utility Tsh67 billion per year.
The pilot phase of the energy efficiency programme has started in Dar es Salaam, which uses over 50 per cent of the total electricity generated in the country.
The Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) has committed to funding the project.
Phase out power rationing
He said although Tanesco is not producing enough electricity to satisfy its customers, the plan will help it phase out power rationing.
He said the biggest challenge the company is facing is the rapid increase in new mega buildings in the cities that consume a lot of electricity.
“We hope that replacing bulbs will reduce energy consumption and promote energy efficiency activities,” said Mr Nanyaro.
Tanzania’s annual consumption is 97kWh per capita and the demand for electricity is expected to double in the next three years.
The rapid growth of demand for electricity, over-reliance on hydro generation and soaring energy losses from ageing transmission and distribution systems have hampered efficient distribution of electricity.
Hussein Kamote, Confederation of Tanzania Industries director of policy and research, said Tanesco has not contacted its members about the plan but the confederation has launched an energy audit project to help manufacturers reduce electricity use.
“Most industries have old machines that use electricity inefficiently. We will advise our members to upgrade their systems,” said Mr Kamote.
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