TANZANIA: IPTL NOW GENERATES POWER AT FULL CAPACITY

THE Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) plant is now generating 100MW, which is its installed capacity and the management is planning to embark on expanding the facility.

IPTL/Pan African Power Solutions (PAP) Company Secretary and Chief Counsel, Mr Joseph Makandege, said this while briefing reporters in Dar es Salaam on the progress in implementation of the Company's commitment on power output. "In June 15th this year, IPTL's power generation plant located at Tegeta area, reached its full installed capacity of 100MW.

This is one of the promises PAP gave while acquiring IPTL," Mr Makandege said. He said IPTL plant which is wholly managed by a local company, PAP, is steadily moving towards delivering on all its promises of bringing relief to power consumers in Tanzania.

"We will generate 200MW with new Gas Plant by December 2015 at the capacity charge of less than 8 US Cents, being Phase I and Phase II another 300MW by December 2017.

"We promised to lower our tariffs, increase production up to the plant's installed capacity then move ahead to expand our plant to be able to produce 500MW after transforming the plant to use gas which will enable IPTL to further lower its tariffs to between six and eight US cents per unit.

Within this short period of time, we have demonstrated our will to fulfill all the promises," Mr Makandege said. He said although the Company's tariffs currently stand at between 26 and 30 US cents per unit, consumers should be ready to start enjoying lower tariffs immediately after the company converts its machines to use gas in generating power.

Currently, other players in the market charge between 38 to 60 US cents per unit. Mr Makandege added that all IPTL engines are fully reconditioned and overhauled after almost six years of running in tip top condition.

He added that the new management is currently re-surfacing all the in-roads with Asphalt, thereby changing the whole scenery at IPTL. "As a power generating Company, we understand the economic benefits of cheap power to individual consumers and in the long run, to the country's economic development.

"This is why we are working hard to expand our ability to produce more but cheap power which will help to transform the growing economy of this country," he said in the statement.

Mr Makandege said his company decided to seek better ways of producing affordable power, as compared to other players in the market, because it believes in using its presence to positively influence and improve livelihood of its consumers and communities surrounding it.