Some 25 years back when the ruling party took power, the country was in desperate situation and the aftermath of the war left the nation's fate unpredictable. The economy almost plummeted to zero level. Most infrastructures were incapacitated and out of use and the quest for peace and stability seemed nightmarish. Getting things back in shape or giving them a kiss of life was a daunting task for the new government. Hence, taking stabilizing.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 5th January 2017

Reliable supply and affordable electricity is the key in the establishment and revival of industries in the country. Since it came to power, the Fifth Phase Government has been encouraging both local and foreign investors to set up industries in the country.   Last week, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) announced the increase of electricity tariff by an average of 8.5 per cent.   It is quite clear that.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 4th January 2017

Sometime back when I was in The Netherlands, I once searched high and low to get an English newspaper and asked some Dutch people why it's difficult to chance upon one. I never got anywhere.   The response was "English newspapers are over-taxed so as to discourage them in favour of newspapers published in Dutch language". The reason is to promote locally-made products in order to maintain the balance of trade and.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

The development of electric power is an area in which Ethiopia has registered significant growth over the course of the last two decades. Particularly, the nation could generate huge electric resource from hydro power scheme alone.   As the effort to generate electric power had begun in 1897 with a generator capacity to the national palace, currently Ethiopia could build mega hydro-power projects which have the capacity to generate 6,000.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Dar es Salaam — The government yesterday revoked new electricity tariffs, only a day after they were announced by the regulator-- Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura).   Energy and Minerals minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo took the unprecedented action in a letter ordering Ewura to shelve the planned increase in the cost of power supply.   The letter dated December 31 and addressed to Ewura director general.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

The Energy Utility Corporation Limited (EUCL) has unveiled a new drive that seeks to increase access to electricity as well as boost efficiency and improve revenue collection.   The performance improvement programme is part of efforts geared at transforming the utility firm into a "highly efficient and customer-centric" organisation, according to Jean Bosco Mugiraneza, the Rwanda Energy Group (REG) chief executive. He is.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 30th December 2016

The Minister for Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana, has asked prisons officials to review their electrical installations as a precaution against fire incidents.   The minister was speaking, yesterday, after handing over an assortment of materials worth about Rwf4.5 million to inmates whose personal effects were burnt in Sunday's fire at Nyarugenge Prison.   Mukantabana noted that some prisons are old.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th December 2016

In another otherwise difficult year filled with political turmoil, Ethiopia has scored one huge win by inaugurating the Gilgile Gibe III Hydroelectric Dam over the Omo River which almost doubles the country's power generation output.   The Omo River Basin, located in the southwestern part of the country, is one of 11 basins. The Omo River valley is grown into full force from the steams and brooks of the mountains of Amhara. The Oromia.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th December 2016

Over 1trn/- has been allocated for implementation of the Rural Energy Agency (REA)'s phase III projects, which are expected to electrify all villages in the country.   According to Energy and Minerals Minister, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, 543.3bn/- out of the 1trn/- budget, will be sourced internally with the remaining amount coming from donors.   Professor Muhongo, speaking to Mara residents during his tour of the region to.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th December 2016

East Africa’s economies top countries in sub-Saharan Africa in injecting clean energy into their national grids, through new projects in wind and solar.   The latest report of Climatescope, the clean energy country competitiveness index by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, shows that clean energy policies are becoming more widely adopted across sub-Saharan Africa.    “Fourteen countries from the region have introduced.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th December 2016

At nearly every industry event and customer meeting over the past year or so, the conversation has inevitably turned to the subject of “change.” It can be changes happening within our industry, or broader changes in the economy or society – like the impact of smartphones and social media on daily life.   A few days ago, at GE’s Power Services Middle East & Africa Customer Summit, themed ‘The Digital.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th December 2016

Mbeya — Tanzania and Malawi are expecting to implement a joint 180-megawatt electricity project that will enable each country to produce 90mw.   The two countries also expect to implement another joint project on irrigation where a total of 600 hectares will be developed, with 3000 farms in each country.   The implementation of the projects follow agreement over development for Songwe River Basin (SRBDP), signed by the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd December 2016