This situation, which the TCCL says started 45 days ago, has caused hundreds of trucks, from different regions of Tanzania to remain stranded at the factory yard waiting for cement consignment.
In order the factory to operate in full capacity, 24 hours, it needs 25MW to 26MW, but since July 3rd electricity supplied to the factory has gone down to below 15MW, which is not enough to operate machines at full capacity.
Speaking with journalists, Tanga Cement Plc national logistics manager Engineer Samuel Shoo explained that the problem started since July 3rd this year, and this has affected production, which has caused the company fail to meet demands.
He said TCCL officials have several times met with Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (Tanesco) management to find the best ways to overcome the problem but no any solution has been achieved.
"The problem had affected the whole system of logistics, considering we are the largest cement and clinker producer in northern Tanzania. We have also been affected because we supply clinker to other East Africa countries including Rwanda and Kenya," he said.
"Due to this condition we are now focusing distributing the little we are producing to national strategic projects, but we stopped receiving orders from wholesaler and retailers," he said.
Engineer Shoo said the clinker production capacity per day stands at 4500 tons, while cement production stands 6,000 ton per day and every one hour the factory has the capacity of producinh 120 ton of cement.
Responding, the Tanga Tanesco regional Manager, Julius Sabu said are aware with the problem and the company was working on the matter.
However, he did not provide more details on how the electricity company is expected to solve the problem.
He said all Tanga Cement manufacturing factories including Tanga Cement PLC are connected with national electricity grid.
According to reliable information reached the Guardian, the problem has hit the factory over the last 45 days consecutive days, citing low water levels to the main electricity production sources.
Worst enough on Friday August 19, the factory with capacity of producing 120 tons of cement per hour did not produce even a single bag of cement, after power went off for twelve hours during day time.
If the immediately steps would not be taken, the effects are also expected to be experienced in the building industry, including strategic projects implemented in different regions of Tanzania.
Cement production in Tanzania reached roughly 6.5 million metric tons in 2021. It also noted that Tanzania's per capita cement consumption of around 50kg per annum is well below the global average and low even for Africa.
On Friday of August 19, late evening, a team of Tanga based journalists from different media outlets visited the company's premises immediately after some of the trucks drivers asked them to address the concern.
Journalists witnessed queues of trucks stranded on yards waiting for cargoes clearance order, while others are on the way moving out from the yard without cement.
Speaking with reporters some drivers revealed difficulties they are facing, saying they are currently waiting for long periods to secure cement.
"Others are here for three consecutive weeks without any reliable information when the problem will end. I came all the way seeking cement consignment from Bukoba," said Ali Yusufu a driver of Mpenda One Trucks Company from Morogoro with lorry's registration number T567 DRK.
Steven Mashauri , a driver of truck with registration number T791 DVB explained that he was forced to strand there because his order was ready paid but when arrived, he found nothing.
" I drove for three days from Kagera to Tanga after being pressurized by my boss to do so, I didn't even greeted my family in Morogoro, now i have eight days stuck here, even my milage allowances i dont have".
Malisa John Machibya, a driver from Kahama who is working with HB General Store truck explained that due to high population of drivers stranded there, there is a risk of eruption of contaminated diseases because of congestion of people whom depending on four pit toilets.
"There are about 300 drivers who all depending these few toilets, what do you expect? Before this situation, we spent only one to two days before everything being cleared but now others stayed long without any hope of getting cleared".
Desideri Mlokozi a Tanga Cement dealer from Bukoba who spoke with the Guardian through phone said the situation had caused the price of cement to go up on Lake Zone regions.
He explained that Simba Imara 42.5 used for construction of roads, bridges and storey buildings which was once sold 22,000/- is now sold 23,000/- and Simba Bora 32.5 which was sold 20,000/- is now sold at 21,000/- price.
