Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) has stepped up preparations for the expected impact of El Niño rains, including reinforcing ageing power infrastructure, deploying emergency response teams and monitoring water levels at major hydropower dams.
The measures are aimed at reducing power disruptions and protecting communities as heavy rains increase the risk of damaged electricity infrastructure, flooding and excessive water flows around hydropower facilities.
Tanesco Managing Director Lazaro Twange said the utility had assessed its network with the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) and identified areas considered vulnerable to heavy rains.
“We held a meeting with the weather authority and assessed our infrastructure. We know the vulnerable areas and have already started taking action,” Mr Twange said during TBC’s Aridhio programme on September 17.
He said one of the immediate interventions was replacing ageing wooden electricity poles, particularly in Dar es Salaam, where some poles had shown signs of deterioration.
“In Dar es Salaam, we have already started replacing wooden poles that are showing signs of ageing with new ones,” he said.
The preparations are also intended to shorten the time customers spend without electricity when weather-related faults occur.
Mr Twange said Tanesco had established emergency teams that would respond to customer reports of faults and other problems during the rainy season.
“We have prepared our emergency teams to deal with our customers when they call us,” he said.
But while heavy rains could disrupt electricity distribution, they could also provide a boost to hydropower generation by increasing water levels in reservoirs.
Tanesco operates major hydropower facilities including the Julius Nyerere, Mtera, Kidatu and Kihansi power stations.
Mr Twange said the company was monitoring water levels closely because excessive inflows could create risks for people living near the dams.
“Water is important to us because sufficient water levels enable us to generate electricity,” he said.
“However, because of El Niño, we may receive more water than usual, and that water could cause harm to communities living around our dams.”
Tanesco has therefore begun working with local authorities to alert residents living near hydropower facilities about possible risks and the precautions they need to take.
“We have already started working with local leaders to educate residents, but people themselves must also take precautions so that when water levels rise, they do not cause harm to communities living near our hydropower facilities,” Mr Twange said.
The preparations highlight a dual challenge for the power utility: ensuring that heavy rains do not damage distribution infrastructure while also managing increased water flows that could affect communities around hydropower dams.
Tanesco has urged customers to report electricity faults and potentially dangerous infrastructure early and to observe safety precautions during heavy rains.
The utility said it would continue monitoring weather and water conditions and strengthening its emergency response capacity as the rainy season approaches.