THE National Grid power diversification for a healthy energy mix has gained momentum as the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) signed a 274.7bn/- contract for a first ever production of 150 MW solar photovoltaic.
Minister for Energy, Mr January Makamba witnessed the agreement signing of the project yesterday. The scheme will be implemented by Chinese Sinohydro Corporation in two phases and upon completion, it will be connected to the national grid.
“The project is the largest and one of its kind in Eastern Africa in terms of solar photovoltaic energy sources and we are on a renewable energy strategy for a healthy energy mix, so that we become assured of reliable power supply throughout the year,” assured Mr Makamba.
Being financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), the minister said, the first phase of the project whose construction will start in June 2023 will be completed within 14-months.
Paying gratitude to the sixth phase government for good bilateral relations with the development partners, he added: “We have been waiting for this project to take off for almost three years, it was not an easy task, we are happy that this project has been signed today, construction of 150MW at Kishapu in Shinyanga is a big success in the industry.”
He further said: “Our journey for the ambitious renewable energy has started and we will go to the wind and geothermal power as well to have our national grid being an energy mixer at all time”.
The signing of the contract is in line with the National Development Plan, which eyes the renewable energy sector to attain the 5000MW to the national grid come 2025.
Equally, the Minister noted that soon the government will come up with the renewable energy policy after the launch of the renewable energy strategy in the coming financial year.
They want to engage more Public Private Partnership (PPP) by allowing more investment in the renewable energy sector.
He said such a project is also lined up in the Zuzu area in Dodoma with expected generation of between 60MW and 100MW of the solar photovoltaic, which is at the feasibility study to be carried out through the PPP.
Hence, Mr Makamba instructed Tanesco to come up with the national profile of the corridors with solar and wind power generation resources, to make it easy for investors.
Starting the coming financial year, the minister said they will start issuing subsidies to facilitate small-scale renewable energy experts and manufacturers in rural and remote areas for power generation.
“They have to benefit with the natural energy sources such as the sun and wind for power generation and sell the units to Tanesco at local currency and benefit majority but also improved welfare” he insisted.
He said the ministry will come up with guidelines to allow such individuals to generate renewable energy and sell the units to the national power utility.
Those interested in joining renewable energy must plan their strategies accordingly as the government expressed commitment to empower the individual as the ministry plans major transformation to have an energy mixer national grid.
In a related development, Mr Makamba commended Kishapu residents for allocating the 1000 acres for the project, while expressing optimism that there must be good security of the project.
Earlier, Tanesco Managing Director, Maharage Chande said the second phase of the 100MW power production is expected to start in August 2023, adding that upon the completion the cost will be low and kickstart more projects to commence involving the private sector.
