WHY CHANGE WAS A MUST AT TANESCO
The government yesterday overhauled the power utility in an effort to increase efficiency and unlock its potentials.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed former head of the disbanded Presidential Delivery Bureau, Mr. Omary Issa, as new Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) board chairperson, MultiChoice’s Maharage Chande to be managing director and transferred five senior officials from the financially-troubled state company.
The reforms were necessitated by the performance of the entity, which is marred by power outage complaints, political interference, and debts approaching Sh1 trillion.
The new top management and board members include members with vast experience from the private sector, signaling a move to embrace business culture in the company which enjoys a monopoly of power transmission and distribution.
The team also include people who worked with the disbanded Big Results Now (BRN) initiative which was established under President Jakaya Kikwete administration to solve development challenges through quick and efficient results in the priority sectors – education, energy, agriculture, water, transport, health, business environment, and resource mobilization.
SIMILAR: President Samia sacks Tanesco boss
The minister for Energy, Mr. January Makamba, who has made remarkable comments about electricity supply since his recent appointment, hinted at the “major reforms” saying the company was operating like it was in the 19th century.
He said the company had the largest annual revenue in the country, estimated at Sh1.8 trillion, and all was spent while debts approaches Sh1 trillion.
According to him, 88 percent of the revenue was generated through the sale of electricity to 3.2 million users. “There is a great possibility to triple the number of customers,” he said.
Deficiencies
The Controller and Auditor General have repeatedly raised concerns over deficiencies that affect the performance of the state entities including Tanesco.
In a 2019 public authorities audit report which was released in March this year, the Controller and Audit General (CAG) Charles Kichere listed some deficiencies noted at Tanesco, Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), Tanzania Post Corporation (TPC), and Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL) which he said limit the entities from competing in the market.
The challenges relate to financial constraints, inadequate investment in technology, low implementation of strategic projects, longer turnaround days, and slow pace in collection of outstanding receivables which could boost their financial strength and invest in a profitable venture.
Tanesco is said to be one of the largest employers in the country with close to 8,000 staff and 6,000 casual workers but there are still complaints of delayed response in case of power challenges.
Mr. Makamba said with the current Tanesco revenue estimated at Sh1.8 trillion and assets of up to Sh13 trillion, the largest of all local companies, should not struggle the way it is today. He said Tanesco’s old power machines caused it to lose up to 16 percent of the power generated – far above the international standard which allows losing a maximum of five percent.
“This is not acceptable at all,” said Mr. Makamba, adding that 120 megawatts (MW) which are enough to connect eight regions (Iringa, Njombe, Ruvuma, Tabora, Manyara, Singida, Lindi, and Mtwara) was lost last year alone.
The minister also accused the utility of operating in the old way even as the world was moving rapidly technologically.
He cited an example of it having no modern tools to detect power outages in its lines.
Unutilized potentials
The CAG also reported that some power plants were not producing to their full capacity, forcing Tanesco to dispatch expensive sources of energy to cover the country’s demand.
The report cited an example of Kinyerezi I and Kinyerezi II plants which generate only 290 MW while the installed capacity is 398 MW, leaving some 108 MW unutilized.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN.
Also, Check Similar E News Articles;