DODOMA: SUCCESSFUL operation of the electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma demonstrates Tanzania’s ability to generate sufficient electricity, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr Doto Biteko.
Dr Biteko, who traveled to Dodoma on the electric SGR train, expressed confidence in Tanzania’s power capacity, saying the service reflects the country’s energy reliability.
“The electric SGR train journeys are a testament that Tanzania has enough electricity. Reliable power not only drives modern transport but also paves the way for economic growth, with industries being built and industrial clusters expanding,” Dr Biteko said.
To further bolster the power supply, Dr Biteko announced ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Energy to ensure a continuous and stable electricity flow.
This includes the construction of a high-capacity transmission line from Chalinze to Dodoma and plans to extend electricity from the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (JNHPP) to Dodoma and subsequently to Singida, Arusha and Mwanza.
ALSO READ: Shabiby Bus Company Manager: SGR has not affected bus business
The Chalinze–Dodoma Line, a 400kV overhead line stretching 345 km, is under construction and is set to be operational in 2024. The line, managed by Tanzania Electric Supply, will feature double-circuit cables to ensure a stable and efficient power supply.
It will carry alternating current (AC) through double-circuit cables, ensuring a stable and efficient power supply. In addition to the electric train’s success, Dr Biteko highlighted the ministry’s efforts to ensure that Tanzania’s energy sector keeps pace with national development.
SGR electric train services were officially launched last month by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Investments (PIC) visited the JNHPP and expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress, now 98.99 per cent complete.
During the visit, the committee’s Vice Chairperson, Marry Masanja, commended the government’s investment in the project, noting its benefits in boosting electricity supply to the national grid and creating employment opportunities for Tanzanians during its construction phase.
