AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) will next month start using concrete electric poles in its projects, a move that is expected to save 67bn/- spent annually on maintenance of wooden poles.
According to the government, the use of concrete poles will improve efficiency in the energy sector and ensure reliable power to customers, while experts say that it will help to have durable power infrastructure.
Minister for Energy Dr Medard Kalemani told stakeholders engaged in the production of poles at his office in Dar es Salaam that, the government had resolved to stop using wood poles and switch to concrete ones from July 1 this year in order to improve power supply.
He said the concrete poles will be produced in country, noting that it had already opened doors for various investors to start making them.
Dr Kalemani explained that the current power production was sufficient to meet the country’s demand, and so there was no reason for people to miss electricity due to maintenance of infrastructure, especially replacement of damaged poles.
“We have sufficient power … there is no need for people to experience frequent power outages due to replacement of damaged poles. Tanesco should also not spend 67bn/- for poles maintenance while we have an option of using concrete poles,” he said.
Tanzania Concrete Poles Company Limited (TCPM) Director Engineer Yusuf Kitivo, said concrete poles have been used in special projects such as Julius Nyerere Hydro Power Plant along Rufiji River within the Selous Game Reserve.
He said the use of concrete poles had shown positive results in improving power supply services.
For his part, Burton Nsemwa from Lukolo Company which deals with production of concrete poles, praised the government’s move, saying that it is an opportunity for local investors to contribute to the development of their nation.
A senior lecturer at the College of Engineering (CoET), Dr Mighanda Manyahi, said that the use of concrete poles would help the country to have durable power infrastructure.
He said that wooden poles can be easily attacked by termites and their strength cannot be compared to concrete poles.
Dr Manyahi further said that wooden poles cannot exceed 12 feet and it is used for low and medium voltage while concrete poles can also be used for high voltage.
He said that although concrete poles are expensive, they last longer compared to wooden ones.
“This is a good move but the quality should be controlled in order to avoid production of low quality poles,” he said.
