Power crisis in Tanzania to worsen as dam closes

The current power crisis in Tanzania is probably to worsen after the shut-down of the Mtera Dam that feeds into the country's largest hydropower plant at Kidatu, according to local press reports on Wednesday.

The Mtera Dam, which also generates electricity, was shut down on Tuesday when the water level at the dam dropped to a dangerous mark of 687.21 meters above sea level. The recommended shut-down water level for the dam is 686 meters above sea level.

English newspaper Daily News quoted the managing director of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) as saying: "I can tell you that the situation is very bad. We are working hard to get a generator installed at Mwanza so that the northern regions will not suffer for a long time."

The shut-down of Mtera will lead to the shut-down of the Kidatu Dam as well due to lack of reservoir water.

Though Mtera is generating a meager eight megawatts and Kidatu is generating 25 megawatts, the shut-down of these hydropower plants in central Tanzania will plunge five northwestern regions into total darkness.

Tanesco Managing Director Adriaan van der Merwe has warned that the five provincial administrative regions in the northwest would have to remain in total darkness unless emergency power generators are activated.

For the time being, Tanzania needs an emergency electricity generation of some 240 megawatts, or half of the country's normal power consumption.

The Mtera and Kidatu dams, the country's major hydropower plants, have a combined installed generating capacity of 280 megawatts.

Lack of rainfalls during the 2005-2006 rainy season has caused the drop of water levels at these and other hydropower dams in the country.

Starting from late last year, Tanzania has resorted on-and-off to strict power rationing schemes and the current power rationing in Dar es Salaam alone lasts all week long from 7:00 in the morning till 6:00 in the evening.

Source: Xinhua