NM-AIST invents technology capable to identify areas of power outages on national grid

ARUSHA: THE Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Professor Maulilio Kipanyula, has announced that the institution has developed technology capable of identifying locations experiencing power outages on the national electricity grid.

He said the technology is currently undergoing verification and performance testing before it can be deployed on a wider scale.

Prof. Kipanyula explained that the innovation would simplify the work of engineers at the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), enabling them to identify affected areas remotely using computers without having to physically search for faults across different locations.

He added that the technology could also be adapted for household use, allowing consumers to use mobile phones to determine whether a power outage originates from a fault in their local area. This is expected to improve fault detection and accelerate the restoration of electricity services.

Prof. Kipanyula said accurate data would be essential to ensuring the technology performs effectively and can be adopted widely by the public, as reliable data would help measure and validate its results.

In recognition of the importance of data in technological development, NM-AIST has signed a cooperation agreement with the Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre (EASTC) to combine expertise in science, technology and innovation with statistical knowledge to address challenges facing communities.

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He said the partnership would also support the development of technologies for detecting water losses in distribution systems.

Prof. Kipanyula emphasised that NM-AIST’s goal was not merely to develop innovations but also to ensure they reach the market and are adopted by the public to improve services and increase efficiency.

Meanwhile, EASTC Principal, Prof. Tumaini Katunzi, said statistics are essential for measuring national development and evaluating the implementation of development plans. He noted that collaboration with science and technology institutions would strengthen the use of evidence in decision-making.

Prof. Katunzi said the agreement between EASTC and NM-AIST aims to combine statistical expertise with technological innovation to develop solutions that address the actual needs of society.

He added that the partnership would cover several areas, including teaching, joint research and knowledge exchange, which are expected to strengthen both institutions’ capacity to generate knowledge that contributes to national development.

Prof. Katunzi further stressed that the use of accurate data would enable institutions and relevant authorities to assess the implementation of development plans based on evidence rather than relying solely on estimates.

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