Magogoni fishmongers, govt hold discussion over new energy mode

Ilala Municipal Council (IMC) has said discussion are underway between the government and stakeholders to install gas powered cookers at the Magogoni International Fish market in Ilala, Dar es Salaam.
 
In a telephone interview with ‘The Guardian’ yesterday the Ilala Municipality Director, Isaya Mngumi, said the discussion necessitate the need to shift from the use of obsolete technology to a modern one.
 
He however admitted that although the discussions have a bit taken long, the focus would be to come up with a long-term solution which includes using the natural gas energy currently under construction from Mtwara.
 
The stakeholders in the discussions include Ministry of Livestock and Fishery development, Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration, Local Government Authority and the fishmongers.
 
“The discussions are still going on between the stakeholders to find out the mode of energy to substitute the use of firewood as heat energy,” he said.
The director further said already Oryx, a gas company, has expressed interest to take over the job, but we have not opened door due to the ongoing discussions.
 
Magogoni Fish market Chairman Hassan Mbonde said that the natural gas is the only cheapest means of energy in the market at the moment.
He said industrial manufactured gas is expensive compared to natural gas, adding that fishmongers will not afford to purchase the latter.
“I call upon the Municipal authorities to substitute firewood for gas but it should be affordable. It must reduce operational costs and not otherwise,” he advised.
 
He said currently, there are gas burners installed at the market as a pilot project as preparation to shift to gas energy.
 
The chairman said burners installed should be further modified to reduce unnecessary expenses to the fishmongers whose income is not predictable.
When contacted, the Ilala Municipal Mayor, Jerry Slaa said the municipality has assigned the Vocational Education Training Authority (Veta) to conduct a study and give recommendations.
 
He said recommendation from the study would make clear how the project could be implemented with lesser cost to the fishmongers.
 
Mayor Silaa said that was due to prevailing antagonism between the Municipality leadership and the fishmongers at the Magogoni fish market.
SOURCE: IPPMEDIA

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