Tanzania announces series of power cuts

ARUSHA, Tanzania --Ongoing drought in east Africa has forced Tanzania to impose power cuts seven days a week, the energy minister said Friday.

The nationwide move follows months of rationing, and is blamed on serious water shortages in Tanzania's hydroelectric dam.

Power rationing began in December and last month was extended from three days a week to five.

With the latest extension, consumers will be without power for 10 hours every day of the week. Industry is to be supplied with power during the day, but not at night.

"We have no option for the time but to do power rationing," Energy Minister Ibrahim Msabaha told state television, explaining that the national power company was producing only half of the country's needs.

Water levels in Tanzania's only hydroelectric dam have gone down because of a prolonged drought in the region. A backup gas turbine has also failed.

The state treasury has said the drought earlier this year would likely slow the country's economic growth in 2006. The economy is expected to expand 5.8 percent now, compared to a previous projection of 7.2 percent.