Energy: the dam of Tsiazompaniry is almost dried-up

Jirama is once again facing new problems. The dam of Tsiazompaniry which the dam of Antelomita depends on is now experiencing low-water level, a very alarming situation according to Jirama’s officials.

Indeed, the company supplying water and electricity in Madagascar does not seem to be at the end its troubles. The dam of Tsiazompaniry which generates a total power of 2.5 MW is now nearly dried-up and does not produce power anymore. Jirama’s officials seem very much worried about the situation. As explained by Albert Ravelojaonina, Jirama’s Deputy General Manager of Electricity Department, “In normal times, the dam of Tsiazompaniry does not generate no more than 2.5MW, but in spite of that, it keeps turning that of Antelomita. The latter provides a total power of 8 MW, but currently it only produces 2MW, resulting in a power loss of 8.5Mw”.

To compensate that loss power, Jirama has opted for an alternative. “We try to increase the power of our thermal power plants. Instead of 70 %, they run at 80 %,” explains the same official. Jirama can indeed increase the amount of power it produces. Despite its financial problems, it can now afford that power increase thanks to the agreement made with the government, stating that the latter will pay directly the 75 billion Ariary debts that Jirama owes to its suppliers.

Despite this low-water problem, Jirama said it can reduce power cut in the capital. It went from 13.5 MW last week during the peak time of the grid (between 6:00pm and 9:00pm) to 10 Mw yesterday. But no matter what the government or Jirama pretends to say, the power cut is back on again since Monday and the population must endure its harmful consequences, especially now that the feast days draw nearer.