Kisumu
  6/12/07
 
SWEDEN AND NORWAY TO BE INVOLVED IN ZANZIBAR ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT.

By Leo Odera Omolo

News emerging out of Dar Es Salaam says that Zanzibar is independently seeking an international firm to turn around the ailing Zanzibar Electricity Corporation (ZECO).

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Lands was recently quoted as saying that the consultancy will be funded by the government of Sweden to the tune of USD 1.56 million through its Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and will commence next February.

Mr. Ali Mwalim added that the consultancy will among other things formulate a concrete strategy to sustain the implementation of power projects and more cubic projects.

‘’The project comprises financial restructuring, business development and financial management, as well as different means to reduce technical and non- technical losses in the electricity system,’’ he said.

The project is part of phase one of an energy sector programme for Zanzibar.

The Swedish government runs long term development co-operation projects in the energy sector aiming at improving access to energy for the groups which are part of the world’s population growth today denied reliable and efficient energy supply.

Five years ago, Norpan, a Norwegian firm carried out feasibility study for the assessment of an undersea cable from the mainland as a more reliable and cost effective way of supplying electricity of the island.

The contract was awarded to carry out detailed studies, including the 70 km of under sea routing, with a depth of 850 m below sea level.

The study includes procurement and supervision for the installation of the 33 Kv cable, substitutions on both sides and transmission lines. The existing thermal power station will be upgraded with new generators.

The Norwegian government has also since 1986 supported the Rural Electrification Programme in Zanzibar to the tune of USD 25 million.

The extension phase started in October 2006 and it is supposed to establish access to electricity for 32 villages with an estimated number of households of 7,130 at Unguja (Zanzibar Island) and for 31 villages with an estimated number of 17,580 household in Pemba the won Island

A new agreement with Zanzibar was signed in 2006 on the electrification of Pemba a preparatory whose for an inter sea cable from Tanga to Pemba for USD 5.4 million.

An annual implementation phase for such a cable project is expected to ensure a confined stable power supply to Pemba’s 270,000 inhabitants.

End

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com