Statnett will share of its long experience in energy transmission with its Tanzanian counterpart through workshops, training and technical assistance, according to the inception report for the Norwegian sponsored development project.

Tanzania Electric Supply Company LTD (TANESCO) is currently not profitable, it experiences faults in its power system and electricity is only available to 14% of Tanzania’s population.

–Electricity is a catalyst for development and we hope to see improvements in our system. We want to become profitable, efficient and to make electricity more available to the population, says Mr. Mhaiki.
He believes their Norwegian counterpart may contribute with valuable knowhow. The goal is to make measurable improvements in TANESCO’s corporate strategy and business development capability and to increase efficiency in planning and maintenance of the transmission system, agree the partners.

 
Instead of assisting TANESCO in one specific project, Statnett will provide advice integrated in TANESCO’s managerial and technical processes, in order to build up competence within the company.  The partners expect for instance the twinning project to enable the Tanzanian electricity company to design and carry out achievable grid development plans, to manage project risk and improve their communication and business relations within the electricity sector.

–We will work together with TANESCO in developing plans and carry out processes. All experience, expertise and key staff from Statnett is available to TANESCO through this project, explains Anders Moe, who will take over as project manager for Statnett from December.

After a project planning period the inception report for the project was approved at the first annual meeting between the Governments of Tanzania and Norway 21th September 2010 and the first workshops focusing on knowledge exchange were taking place in Dar es Salaam the same month. In October some employees in TANESCO will come to Norway to see and learn how Statnett is operating there.

The twinning agreement will last for 3 years, with an optional extension of two years, and is supported with 21 million NOK by Norway.

 
The project was initiated as a result of a request from TANESCO signaling a large willingness in the company to emulate international practices and standards in order to improve electricity supply in Tanzania. The idea comes from Uganda where the Ugandan Company UETCL has cooperated with Statnett since 2006.