nngu007
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- Aug 2, 2010
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Monday, 08 August 2011 06:49 Mac Tom
Dar es salaam, TANZANIA Tanzania could have eased the power rationing that is currently affecting the country even further with the proper use of the available gas in Dar es Salaam.
According to the investigations by East African Business Week the government has been dividing, the little gas available for power generation between Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) Ubungo Gas Plant (UGP) and the Symbion plant (formerly owned and run by Dowans), all situated at the crowded Ubungo area.
"I just don't know how this country sets its priorities. Take the case of the ongoing power rationing, which has eased with increased generation at the IPTL plant in Tegeta, instead of dedicating the natural gas to the UGP as the plant only uses gas and run the Symbion plant on fuel, they are running both of them on gas," said a source.
According to the source this has given rise to reduced power generation instead of increasing it due to the fact that the UGP was only generating 42 MW by Thursday, out of the 100MW installed capacity.
The Symbion plant was generating 75 MW by Thursday (installed capacity 102 MW). The two plants were generating a combined total of 107MW, by last week.
"Thus, had we been more serious and really interested in solving the power crisis, diesel should have been made available for the Symbion plant so that it could at least generate above 90 MW and gas should have been dedicated to the UGP that could generate 95 MW," the sources told East African Business Week.
They further argued that even when Symbion has enough fuel to generate the 75 MW and UGP generates at least 95MW, the total would have been 170MW instead of the 107MW. "We are sitting on not less than 50MW of electricity at the UGP plant that could be generated with the availability of more gas, as the plant only runs on natural gas," said our sources.
After the government intervened and secured fuel for the IPTL plant at Tegeta, the power rationing subsided and the sources believe this must happen even for Symbion plant, which is able to run on both gas and fuel because it is a dual generating plant that runs on either gas or fuel. Before government intervention the IPTL plant was generating a dismal 10MW.
more energy : Songo Songo gas plant in Southern Tanzania expected to ease power deficits.
The sources said that once more fuel is dedicated to the Symbion plant (90MW), Aggreko plant (100MW) comes on board and UGP (100MW) is made to generate power at full capacity using gas, the combined total would at least be 290MW, which go a long way in minimising the effects of power shortages.
The Tanzania Government is currently in the process of putting up another gas pipeline for Somanagfunga-Mtwara to Dar es Salaam, covering some 497 km.
A total of 497 kms of pipeline is to be laid once the right contractor is found and the government through the Tanzania Petroleum Development Company (TPDC) now wants to carry out an environmental and social impact assessment for the proposed Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline.
According to a recent statement from the TPDC the scope of the service would include indentifying and analysing all the relevant stakeholders in the project including -but not limited to-government relevant ministries, departments, landowners and all neighbours; north, south, east and west) and communities and all other relevant stakeholders.
There are two projects to be involved one is to carry out a land survey and lay a pipeline from Mtwara to Somangafungu and another pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam bringing the total to be constructed to 497 kms.
The two projects would be undertaken in two lots one for environmental and social impact assessment for the proposed Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline and a survey for pipeline route from Mnazi Bay Mtwara to Somangafungu.
The consultant for the Mtwara-Somangafungu project would be required, among other things, to recommend mitigation measures and plans to minimize any negative impacts; establish the number and cost of compensation for properties to be affected as per the requirements.
Currently the country has experienced an increase in the use of natural gas by industry, power generation, powering vehicles and domestic purposes.
However, even with abundant gas at Mnazi Mmoja, Songo Songo and Mkuranga the country needs to tap this gas and make it readily available.
Dar es salaam, TANZANIA Tanzania could have eased the power rationing that is currently affecting the country even further with the proper use of the available gas in Dar es Salaam.
According to the investigations by East African Business Week the government has been dividing, the little gas available for power generation between Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) Ubungo Gas Plant (UGP) and the Symbion plant (formerly owned and run by Dowans), all situated at the crowded Ubungo area.
"I just don't know how this country sets its priorities. Take the case of the ongoing power rationing, which has eased with increased generation at the IPTL plant in Tegeta, instead of dedicating the natural gas to the UGP as the plant only uses gas and run the Symbion plant on fuel, they are running both of them on gas," said a source.
According to the source this has given rise to reduced power generation instead of increasing it due to the fact that the UGP was only generating 42 MW by Thursday, out of the 100MW installed capacity.
The Symbion plant was generating 75 MW by Thursday (installed capacity 102 MW). The two plants were generating a combined total of 107MW, by last week.
"Thus, had we been more serious and really interested in solving the power crisis, diesel should have been made available for the Symbion plant so that it could at least generate above 90 MW and gas should have been dedicated to the UGP that could generate 95 MW," the sources told East African Business Week.
They further argued that even when Symbion has enough fuel to generate the 75 MW and UGP generates at least 95MW, the total would have been 170MW instead of the 107MW. "We are sitting on not less than 50MW of electricity at the UGP plant that could be generated with the availability of more gas, as the plant only runs on natural gas," said our sources.
After the government intervened and secured fuel for the IPTL plant at Tegeta, the power rationing subsided and the sources believe this must happen even for Symbion plant, which is able to run on both gas and fuel because it is a dual generating plant that runs on either gas or fuel. Before government intervention the IPTL plant was generating a dismal 10MW.
The sources said that once more fuel is dedicated to the Symbion plant (90MW), Aggreko plant (100MW) comes on board and UGP (100MW) is made to generate power at full capacity using gas, the combined total would at least be 290MW, which go a long way in minimising the effects of power shortages.
The Tanzania Government is currently in the process of putting up another gas pipeline for Somanagfunga-Mtwara to Dar es Salaam, covering some 497 km.
A total of 497 kms of pipeline is to be laid once the right contractor is found and the government through the Tanzania Petroleum Development Company (TPDC) now wants to carry out an environmental and social impact assessment for the proposed Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline.
According to a recent statement from the TPDC the scope of the service would include indentifying and analysing all the relevant stakeholders in the project including -but not limited to-government relevant ministries, departments, landowners and all neighbours; north, south, east and west) and communities and all other relevant stakeholders.
There are two projects to be involved one is to carry out a land survey and lay a pipeline from Mtwara to Somangafungu and another pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam bringing the total to be constructed to 497 kms.
The two projects would be undertaken in two lots one for environmental and social impact assessment for the proposed Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline and a survey for pipeline route from Mnazi Bay Mtwara to Somangafungu.
The consultant for the Mtwara-Somangafungu project would be required, among other things, to recommend mitigation measures and plans to minimize any negative impacts; establish the number and cost of compensation for properties to be affected as per the requirements.
Currently the country has experienced an increase in the use of natural gas by industry, power generation, powering vehicles and domestic purposes.
However, even with abundant gas at Mnazi Mmoja, Songo Songo and Mkuranga the country needs to tap this gas and make it readily available.
