Nyakanazi power substation set for major expansion

BIHARAMULO: THE government, through the Ministry of Energy has unveiled plans to expand the Nyakanazi Power Substation in Biharamulo District in Kagera Region as part of efforts to strengthen its integration with the national grid and improve access to reliable electricity services.

The project is designed to enhance the interconnection of Tanzania’s power grid, creating a single, integrated network that will also enable the country to export electricity to neighbouring nations more efficiently.

Speaking to journalists during a special visit to the facility, the Supervising Engineer of the Nyakanazi Substation, Engineer Isack Kisandu said the station currently operates three main transmission lines, each with a capacity of 220 kilovolts (kV). Once expanded, each line’s capacity will rise to 400 kV.

“One line transmits power to Geita, which is connected to the national grid; the second line receives electricity from the Rusumo Power Plant; and the third line supplies power to Kigoma,” said Eng Kisandu.

He explained that the expansion will allow for full national grid interconnection, ensuring consistent power distribution to regions still relying on crossborder supply, such as Sumbawanga in Rukwa Region, which currently receives electricity from Zambia.

The substation is equipped with two transformers, each with a capacity of 40 megavoltamperes (MVA), which step down voltage from 220 kV to 33 kV for distribution.

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Eng Kisandu added that Nyakanazi currently has four main feeder lines distributing power to seven districts across three regions Kagera Region (Ngara and Biharamulo districts), Geita Region (Chato, Bukombe and Mbogwe districts) as well as Kigoma Region, covering Kakonko and Kibondo districts.

“We cover a wide area in delivering electricity to citizens because Nyakanazi is the first substation to receive power from the Rusumo generation plant,” he noted.

He said the station currently receives an average of 27 megawatts (MW) from Rusumo, of which about 19 MW are consumed within the connected districts, with the surplus fed into the national grid.