Multinational firms explore energy options on gas, diesel

 

A Kenya Pipeline Company depot in Eldoret. The firm is expanding its fuel terminal in Nairobi. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA 

By  Felix Lazaro,The Citizen Reporter

 In Summary

• Clarke Energy and General Electric held a workshop in Dar es Salaam to explore how these technologies being used internationally can also be applied to Tanzania’s market

Dar es Salaam. Two global energy companies have extended their partnership to explore how technological devices in gas and diesel power generation can be applied in Tanzania.

Clarke Energy and General Electric (GE) Distributed Power, the former being an authorized distributor and service partner of the latter, held a workshop in Dar es Salaam to explore how these technologies being used internationally can also be applied to Tanzania’s market.

British High Commissioner Dianna Malrose hailed the move saying it will help Tanzania to get the energy it needs for economic development.

“Manufacturing sector needs stable power supply to operate effectively, create jobs and help in the growth of the economy,” she said in her address to the participants at the British High Commission office.

According to her, the two companies have practical solutions to reliable energy in the country and called upon firms to adopt the technology.

Areas explored include high efficiency cogeneration and tri-generation using gas engine technology and how they can be applied to pipeline natural gas, agricultural biogas and compressed natural gas where there is no access to the gas distribution network.

Cogeneration means simultaneous production of electricity and heat, both of which are used while tri-generation means simultaneous generation of electricity and useful heating and cooling from the combustion of a fuel or a solar heat collector.

Case studies of best practice were taken from Nigeria, Kenya, UK and Australia. Similarly, the studies involved the Tanzania experience of Kioo Limited in Dar es Salaam which has developed a gas fuelled power plant.

Clarke Energy Group Marketing and Compliance Manager, Alexander Marshall, said the technology can also be used in areas of intensive farming where wastes from farms can be well managed and then used to generate electricity.

“We have a good case study in Naivasha where we installed biogas engine which will be commissioned soon this year,” he said.

The company Business Development Director, Hugh Richmond, said Tanzania has the potential for generating electricity from waste generated from farms and other sources.