Madagascar has spent more than 1,000 billion ariary on Jirama
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Newsmada
Madagascar’s President Michaël Randrianirina says the state has already spent more than 1,000 billion ariary on Jirama, including a new subsidy of 830 billion ariary. Despite the funding, power cuts continue in Antananarivo, where 75% to 85% of the new allocation is expected to support the electricity sector, reports Newsmada.
Madagascar’s president of the Refoundation, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, says the state has already provided more than 1,000 billion ariary to Jirama, the national electricity and water company. He questioned why power cuts persist despite this funding, at a ceremony in Mandroseza, according to Newsmada.
The president also mentioned a subsidy of 830 billion ariary signed the previous week, of which 75% to 85% would go to the electricity sector. Jirama director general General Hajatiana Rasolomanana attributed the load-shedding to lower hydroelectric production, equipment failures at Ambohimanambola and incidents on the grid. The production shortfall rose from 12 megawatts on 21 October to 25 megawatts the following day.
Incidents on 25 October at the Tana-Sud and Tana-Ouest substations further worsened the power cuts. The state also directly imported 63 million litres of diesel to supply Jirama’s thermal power plants for six months, particularly during the low-water period. Randrianirina says the operation saves between 600 and 800 ariary per litre compared with the company’s usual purchases.
The latest power cuts follow the load-shedding disrupting Antananarivo, reported on 3 October. On 5 October, Jirama explained that a power cut was caused by a fault on a 35-kilovolt line.
