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New gas power plant for Tanzania

Saturday October 17 2015

Tanzania has launched a 150MW gas powered electricity plant to help reduce blackouts in the country.

The development comes hardly a week after the government announced that it would switch off all hydropower plant because of falling water levels.

READ: Tanzania to switch off all hydropower stations

According to Felichesmi Mramba, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) managing director, Kinyerezi I Gas Power Plant has started producing 70MW, which will be fed into the national grid.

“As we are shifting from the hydro-generated power supply to other sources, the transition may be faced with the challenges. We thus request our customers to bear with us. This will be a lasting solution to the power problem,” Mr Mramba.

Hydropower

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Tanesco relies on hydropower to generate 57 per cent of its power requirements. The remaining amount is generated from gas and diesel plants commissioned to independent power producers (IPPs).

READ: Blackout: Tanesco losing $0.2m daily

Inaugurating Kinyerezi I, President Jakaya Kikwete said his government is seeking to reach a 2,780MW target by 2016, up from the current 1,490MW.

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