More nationwide electrical generating woes

According to a media report published 28 November 2010, the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) has announced a nationwide electric power shedding program that will last at least one week. The causes: (1) the breakdown of Songas turbines at Ubungo; (2) a shortage of oil that runs the Independent Power Tanzania Limited plant; and (3) low production of power at the Pangani Hydro Power Plant due to falling water levels. TANSECO's power generating capacity is 595 megawatts compared to demand of 787 megawatts. Demand is growing at 15 percent per year, or doubling every 4.8 years. But there are no comprehensive power generating plans, which means the excess of demand over supply will continue to increase and likely lead to more frequent and prolonged periods of power shedding. Refer to "Painful days ahead as Tanseco announces power shedding, " The Guardian on Sunday, Dar es Salaam, http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=23520

Just in Austin, Texas, peak demand was 2,660 megawatts, or 338 percent of the demand in the whole country of Tanzania. In the portion of Texas under the jurisdiction of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, peak demand was 66,867 megawatts or 8,496 percent of Tanzania's nationwide demand. Refer to "Monday was the Hottest Day of the Year So Far, Set Records for Energy Use," Austin American-Statesman, Austin, Texas, USA, 1 August 2011, http://www.statesman.com/news/local/monday-was-hottest-day-of-the-year-so-1682207.html

Tanzania is 150 percent as large as Texas with 175 percent of Texas's population.