datakiss: Tanzania

Tanzania Dams are Switched Off due to Lack of Rain fall

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Kidatu dam" height="179" src="http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/009A/production/_86045100_kidatu_damsite_tanesco.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water level is below normal</td></tr>
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Hydro-electricity generation has fallen to 20% of capacity, making it difficult for the dams to operate.</div>
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It is the first time the East African nation has closed all hydro plants, which generate 35% of its #electricity.</div>
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The power crisis has been made worse by problems at new natural gas plants, an energy ministry official told the BBC.</div>
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The closing of the hydropower dams was beyond the government's control, said Badra Masoud, head of communication at the ministry.</div>
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"We cannot do anything because of the changes in environment - we are not getting enough rain."</div>
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Ms Masoud said more people farming upstream from the dams was not helping the situation, as this reduced the flow of water.</div>
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"We are trying to convince Tanzanians not to farm upstream," she said.</div>
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According to Tanzania's private Citizen paper, the state-owned power company, Tanesco, has already shut down its major Mtera hydropower plant, which can generate 80 MW.</div>
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The country consumes 870 MW but it only currently generates 105 MW, the paper says.</div>
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Only 24% of mainland Tanzania's population is connected to electricity services.</div>
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The BBC's Aboubakar Famau in the main city of Dar es Salaam says those who can afford it tend to invest in generators because of chronic shortages.</div>
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Tanesco also imports power from Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.</div>
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The government wants to increase the number of people connected to the grid by 50% in the next 10 years.</div>
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Last month, three new gas power plants in Dar es Salaam were turned on, using gas piped from the south of the country.</div>
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But it is these plants are also now not working to full capacity because of technical glitches.</div>
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"I cannot predict when this will be sorted out because of the technical issues - we need to be patient so that all these problems and challenges can be sorted out," Ms Masoud said.</div>
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Our reporter says the country's long rainy season is expected to start in December.</div>
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