It ’ s very important for everybody to have access to reliable electricity , and I think that Africa generally suffers in comparison with the rest of the world .”

Nigel Whittaker , Managing Director of Songas , holds these beliefs that mirror those of his company and its parent company , Globeleq . Songas is a major player in the electricity sector for Tanzania , and has been since it became operational in 2004 . The company uses natural gas from Songo Songo Island and processes it on location , before transporting it along a 225km pipeline to the Ubungo Power Plant in Dar es Salaam , owned and operated by Songas . The gas is then converted into electricity which is sold cheaply to TANESCO to sell on to its customers . In a nation which relies heavily on hydroelectric power via precious water supplies which are subject to droughts , and expensive fuel oil must be imported , Songas ’ s presence is a necessity .

“ Only around 30 % of people in Tanzania have access to electricity , but the government has a plan to increase the industrialisation of the country ,” says Whittaker . “ In order for that to happen , reliable electricity needs to be available so that industry can thrive .

“ Currently there ’ s about 1,100MW of electricity available in Tanzania , and the government wants to increase that to 5,000MW , to develop industrialisation and improve access to electricity . We support that . We want to be a part

70 December 2017