Tanzania began a nationwide power rationing programme to alleviate power production problems brought on by high international fuel prices and low water levels in the nation’s hydro reservoirs. Under the programme consumers have been divided into two groups and have their power cut from 6.00am until 12.00pm on alternate days.
Tanzania's hydroelectric power production has been hampered by a severe drought which has caused water levels in Tanzania’s biggest reservoir, the Mtera reservoir, to drop. Mtera accounts for about 70% of the country's hydroelectric power generation.
Although Tanzania has enough thermal power capacity to meet an estimated consumption of 280MW a day, TANESCO, the government owned utility, does not want to import fuel at current high prices.
See article on p23 of the December 2000 issue of IWP&DC.
the government owned
