American engineering firm Cummins Inc has set October as the date to begin generating electricity from a toxic shrub popularly referred to as ‘Mathenge,’ after more than two years of false starts blamed on mechanical hitches.   The Columbus-based company said it is working to rectify the technical snags that have dogged the 12-megwatt Mathenge power plant in Marigat, Baringo County, which was due to begin feeding the.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 25th August 2016

 On August 11th 2016, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), announced the launch of a web portal designed to speed the development of mini grids in Tanzania. The portal, found at www.minigrids.go.tz, provides licensing, financing, regulatory, and other information and support to small, renewable power producers in Tanzania who want to sell electricity to consumers. According to the IFC press.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 24th August 2016

 Moshi — Moshi Municipal Council Mayor Ray Mboya has called on institutions and corporations to invest in alternative sources of power to tackle the ongoing power outages.   The mayor said the municipality, which waits for upgrading to a city in the near future face serious problem in power cuts, which if not urgently and sufficiently addressed, production activities would dwindle and ultimately affect the regional.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 23rd August 2016

 Tanzanian authorities said on Friday they have come up with a number of climate change mitigation strategies, including reducing greenhouse gases by between 10 and 20 percent by 2030.   "These strategies are intended to make our contribution to the global mitigation agenda," said Freddy Manyika, an environment officer from the country's Vice-President's Office.   He told a press conference in the country's coastal.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 22nd August 2016

 Handeni — Energy and Minerals Minister, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, has said Tanzania is going to book a place in modern African history within five years of the Fifth Phase Government, as more rural dwellers will be able to access electricity than their urban counterparts.   He said through the rural electrification programme being carried out by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), there will be more power users in the.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 18th August 2016

 Tanzania. The government of Tanzania and the World Bank yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which the latter will provide $209 million (about Tz Shs456 billion) for the implementation of six-year rural electrification expansion programme.   The six-year project will also be financed by other development partners including Norway who will offer $80 million, Sweden ($70 million), European Union ($50 million),.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 18th August 2016

The government and the World Bank yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which the latter will provide 209 million USD (about 456bn/-) for the implementation of six-year Rural Electrification Expansion Programme. The six-year project will also be financed by other Development Partners (DPs). Other partners who will finance the project are Norway who will offer 80 million USD, Sweden (70 million USD), European Union (50.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th August 2016

The African Water Facility (AWF), a multilateral fund hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB), will finance a $2-million grant to help the government of Tanzania launch a pre-feasibility study for the multipurpose Kikonge dam, irrigation and hydropower project, expected to boost hydropower generation and irrigation development in Tanzania's Southwest region. In March, AfDB approved a $24 million loan to support Rwanda's contribution to.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 17th August 2016

The potential for renewable energy development in Africa is experiencing an increase in attention lately as investors and world leaders seek a new clean energy frontier.   The continent could become a gold mine for renewable energy due to abundant solar and wind resources. But roadblocks to clean energy worldwide are amplified throughout the troubled regions of Africa - financial resources are thin and infrastructure is often.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 16th August 2016

The African Development Bank (AfDB) said the grant being made available to Tanzania’s government is in principle to study the potential for building a 300-megawatt hydro generating facility on the river Ruhuhu in Kikonge, in the southwest of the country.     If developed, the facility is expected to boost domestic electricity production in Tanzania by 53%, culminating in 1,300 gigawatt hours of production by 2025, said the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 12th August 2016

Tanzania plans to spend $3.21 billion over the next five years to connect about one million rural households to electricity, a senior government official has said.   East Africa's second-biggest economy wants to use some of its natural gas reserves to end power shortages and boost industrial growth.   "The five-year rural electrification project whose implementation starts in this 2016/17 government financial year is expected.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 16th August 2016

Stortemelk Hydro, the third hydropower plant developed in South Africa by Renewable Energy Holdings (REH), started commercial operations on July 29. The 4.5 MW, R190-million project, which was awarded preferred bidder status under the second bid window of government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), is located near Clarens, in the Free State. Similar to the two hydropower plants previously.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 11th August 2016