Tanzania bolsters 220kv power transmission to connect Lindi, Mtwara with the national grid

DODOMA: THE Tanzanian government is continuing to implement 220-kilovolt (kV) power transmission projects aimed at connecting Lindi and Mtwara regions to the National Electricity Grid.

Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, said this while responding to a question from Special Seats Member of Parliament Kijakazi Yunus Mohamed, who sought to know the government’s plans to connect the Southern regions, particularly Lindi, to the national grid.

Salome said the projects involve the construction of power transmission lines from Songea to Tunduru, Tunduru to Masasi and Masasi to Mahumbika.

She added that, alongside the transmission lines, the government is constructing 220/33kV substations with a capacity of 120 megavolt-amperes (MVA) in Tunduru and Masasi.

Providing an update on the projects, Salome said construction of the Songea-Tunduru transmission line had reached 51.6 per cent and is expected to be completed in September 2027, while the Tunduru-Masasi project had reached 34 per cent completion and is scheduled for completion in October 2027.

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

On the Masasi-Mahumbika project, she said the valuation of properties belonging to residents affected by the construction had been completed, while the government was continuing to compensate those whose properties would be affected by the project.

She said more than 2.4bn/- had already been paid to affected residents during the first phase of compensation.

The projects are aimed at improving the reliability of electricity supply and facilitating the connection of Lindi and Mtwara regions to the National Electricity Grid.