Ruaha Power Kicks Off Malolo Mini-Grids Power Development in Tanzania

By: Ruaha River Power Company Limited
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - Sept. 2, 2014 - PRLog -- Ruaha River Power Company Ltd., the "Company", an emerging independent power producer, today announced that it has commenced construction of its planned Phase-I development of the Company's Malolo Mini-Grids and begun collecting deposits and signing up subscribers from a waiting list of 400 customers.

The Malolo Mini-Grids are a cluster of four separate, isolated rural "Mini-Grids" to be built, owned, and operated by the Company. The Company intends to generate, distribute, and sell electrical power directly to consumers at pre-payment meters via each Mini-Grid. When complete, the four Malolo Mini-Grids will have a combined generation capacity of 300kW and each Mini-Grid shall directly deliver 75kW of power to a combined total of approximately 2,500 identified residential, commercial, and light industrial customers. The Mini-Grids are being installed in an area surrounding the village of Malolo and three nearby villages, all located in the Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania.

Phase-I of the Malolo Mini-Grid development is expected to commence power deliveries by year end, and consists of the installation and commissioning of a 75kW diesel generation plant, together with over four kilometers of low voltage distribution network to deliver power to about 600 subscribers.

The distribution network will be constructed to standards sufficient for connection to the national grid at such time as it may be extended into the Malolo Mini-Grid area. A 21,500 square feet site near the village of Malolo has been acquired for the first generator site and power line easements arranged. Civil works and the construction of the first powerhouse and office began in August and is expected to be complete by mid-October.

A Phase-II development is planned to replace at least half of the diesel generation capacity with solar PV capacity to complete a hybrid solar PV-diesel powered Mini-Grid. The Company plans to duplicate the Phase-I and Phase-II development at each pf the other three villages, one after the other, upon completion of Phase-II of the first network.

About the Company:   Ruaha Power  is committed to profitably developing and operating customized hybrid electrical power generation and isolated mini-grid distribution networks that supply underserved rural and small urban markets of Tanzania.  The Company has identified several suitable locations and market opportunities for additional but similar hybrid Mini-Grid developments, which are made possible by attractive commercial tariffs and incentives offered by Tanzania's Rural Electrification Agency and the streamline permitting process offered by Tanzania energy regulator EWURA.

In addition to its Malolo solar PV-diesel hybrid Mini-Grids development, the Company is also installing a biomass-diesel hybrid Mini-Grid in the area surrounding the village of Ulelingombe, central Tanzania. The Company has also secured water rights for, and is conducting a feasibility study on, a 25MW development of grid-connected generation capacity at potential run-of-river hydropower sites on Tanzania's Lukosi River. Continental Energy Corporation (OTCQB-CPPXF) owns a 42.5% stake in Ruaha Power and is the Company's single largest shareholder.


Contact
John Tate
***@ruahapower.com
End
Source:Ruaha River Power Company Limited
Email:***@ruahapower.com Email Verified
Tags:Renewable Energy, Africa, Hydropower, Solar, Rural Electrification
Industry:Business, Energy, Government
Location:Dar Es Salaam - Dar Es Salaam - Tanzania
Subject:Projects
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