THE POWER SYSTEM IN TANZANIA

Contributed by Revolutionary Right Reverend Kishoka

HYDRO AND GAS

The power system in Tanzania presently consists of an interconnected grid system and several dispersed isolated systems. The interconnected system consists of large hydroelectric and thermal generating facilities providing power to major towns and townships.

The hydro system has three large reservoirs at Mtera, Kidatu and Nyumba ya Mungu with capacity of storing 4,200 million cubic metres. Kihansi, Hale and Pangani Falls have three head ponds with capacity of 2.26 million cubic meters.

The System is operated to maximize average energy from hydro system by drawing down reservoirs and putting in line thermal generators at the time when needed, especially during peak demand period.

In year with normal to above normal hydrological conditions, it has been possible to replenish the reservoirs during the rain season, but in years with below normal hydrological conditions i.e 2005/2006 reservoirs were not filled to an operating levels, resulting to load shedding. Thermal generators are not enough to service the grid system load, so plans have been taken to increase thermal generation i.e set up emergency power plants. Due to poor hydrology, IPTL and SONGAS were operated continuously (above 80%) during the year 2006 to ease the impact of load shedding.

INSTALLED GRID GENERATION CAPACITY (AS AT 31.12.2006)

PLANT	HYDRO, DIESEL OR GAS	INSTALLED CAPACITY	OWNERSHIP
Kidatu Kihansi Mtera New Pangani Falls Hale Nyumba ya Mungu SONGAS IPTL Aggreko Dowans Holdings (Ex- Richmond Development Corporation) Grid Connected Diesel P/Stations	Hydro Power Plant Hydro Power Plant Hydro Power Plant Hydro Power Plant Hydro Power Plant Hydro Power Plant Gas Turbines Diesel - run plant Gas Turbines Gas Turbines Diesel - run plants	204 MW 180 MW 80 MW 68 MW 21 MW 8 MW 182 MW 100 MW 40 MW 22 MW 34 MW	TANESCO TANESCO TANESCO TANESCO TANESCO TANESCO PRIVATE PRIVATE PRIVATE (Leased for 2 years) PRIVATE (Leased for 2 years) TANESCO
	TOTAL	939 MW

ISOLATED DIESEL POWER STATIONS

. Total installed Capacity - 33.8 MW

. Available generation varies from month to month, but in 2006 it averaged 17.5 MW.

. TANESCO's isolated diesel power stations which are not connected to the national grid system are located at Mtwara, Lindi, Songea, Masasi, Tunduru and Kilwa Masoko. Other townships are Mpanda, Kigoma, Mafia, Ikwiriri, Ngara, Biharamulo, Liwale and Njombe.

. Most of the diesel power stations are aged and urgently require running spare parts to improve their operational performance. Some of the power stations need upgrading and major rehabilitation to meet the growing consumer demand in the townships.

IMPORTS FROM THE NEIGHBOURS

TANESCO imports between 5 MW and 10 MW of bulk power from Uganda for Kagera region while Sumbawanga town in Rukwa region and Tunduma and Vwawa (Mbozi) township in Mbeya region get their supply from neighbouring Zambia

COAL POWER

Kiwira Coal Mine Field in Mbeya region supplies to TANESCO grid between 4 MW to 6 MW annually, and there are plans to expand the mine so that it can generate more power to curb shortages and diversify from hydro generation. Lastly, there is TANWAT factory in Iringa region which generates and distributes about 1.25 MW to Njombe and Makambako townships.

Revolutionary Right Reverend Kishoka