BY AISIA RWEYEMAMU
23rd March 2013
The Government has emphasized the need for more involvement of the private sector in the energy sector as a step to end power woes that often engulf the country.
Prof Sospeter Muhongo, Minister for Energy and Minerals, made the observation yesterday when he met a business delegation from England and Scotland.
Tanzania wants to partner with the private sector in power generation to help the energy sector meet its goals, the minister told the delegation that the government invited to invest in the country.
“Only 21 per cent of the population access electricity…we intend to raise that to 30 per cent by 2015 and need to partner with the private sector to meet these goals,” Professor Muhongo stated.
Muhongo said there are plans to reform Tanesco as its present structure is unable to meet the energy sector’s requirements hence the need to deploy the private sector.
The professor said the current infrastructure cannot keep abreast of population, noting that it was built for a population of nine million people but at present it serves about 45 million.
The professor said the current infrastructure cannot keep abreast of population, noting that it was built for a population of nine million people but at present it serves about 45 million.
The minister said Tanzania is inviting business community from Britain to invest in local power infrastructure, generation, distribution and transmission.
The minister said that the delegation was in the country, purposely to look for suitable areas in which they can invest, stressing that the economy would not grow fast enough if the business of investment is left to government.
He said the government has not enough money to invest in all big projects, giving an example that to drill single oil well needs some $1 million.
Meanwhile, the minister said it is false to claim that Tanzania has no gas policy or law, calling on the public to ignore the activists making the allegation.
He pointed out that currently the country uses the Petrol Act Policy of 2003 and the Oil Act of 1980.
But because exploration has increased cover the years the government will amend the act to match with the present situation, the minister added.
He told the delegation that at present the country has 34 industries that need gas, saying that serious investors would come for discussion with authorities in efforts to partner with private sector.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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