Malagarasi power project to spur economic growth

• Biteko wants efforts to expedite connecting Kigoma to national grid
• Launches construction of Malagarasi 49.5 MW power project

KIGOMA: DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has directed the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to expedite efforts to connect Kigoma Region to the national grid by the end of 2024.

This initiative aims to eliminate the region’s reliance on electricity generated from heavy fuel oil.

The ambitiously emphasis is in line with the ruling CCM party’s 2020-2025 Election Manifesto and the Third National Five-Year Development Plan (FYDPIII), covering 2021/2022 to 2025/2026 FY, which all together are geared at achieving a middle-income, competitive and semi-industrialised economy with shared growth and high-quality human development.

The National Development Vision 2025 highlights the energy sector as an enabling sector which supports manufacturing, transportation, trading and other social economic activities.

These urge the government to strategically enhance electricity generation, transmission, distribution, inter connection, power trading and rural electrification.

Under the vision, the country intends to ensure all 26 regions in Mainland are connected to the national grid by 2025.

Dr Biteko issued the directive yesterday, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Malagarasi River electricity generation project (49.5 MW), alongside the construction of a 132 kV power transmission line from Igamba to Kidahwe and a 400/220/132/33 kV distribution station at Kidahwe.

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He said that the government spends 35bn/- annually on fuel for generators, while revenue only reaches 16bn/-, resulting in substantial losses.

Dr Biteko ordered shutdown of oil-powered generators in Kigoma by end of 2024. He added that the shutdown of generators will also affect regions not yet connected to the grid.

Dr Biteko emphasised that Kigoma is entering a new era with reliable grid electricity sourced from various sources, including Nyakanazi (400 kV and 220 kV), Malagarasi to Kidahwe from Katavi (400 kV), as well as a 220 kV line from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Dar es Salaam.

He expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for the ongoing development projects in Kigoma, where over 1.2tri/- have been allocated for electricity projects in the 2024/2025 financial year.

He noted that the availability of grid electricity will transform Kigoma Region into a recognised area of development.

Regarding rural electrification, he assured that all villages would receive electricity by the end of the year.

Additionally, Dr Biteko donated 500 bags of cement to aid the construction of a health centre in Kidahwe Ward, promising the establishment of another health facility.

In Igamba Village, where the Malagarasi project is being implemented, he mentioned plans for various development projects, including a 20-kilometre paved road.

Dr Biteko commended TANESCO for its renewed focus on delivering electricity to communities and encouraged continued progress, expressing pride in leading the organisation during this pivotal time.

On local government elections, he urged citizens to elect leaders based on their capacity to serve rather than financial incentives.

Reinforcing, the Deputy Minister in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Ms Zainabu Katimba, noted that Kigoma has received 11.5tri/- for development projects under President Samia’s leadership, with over 1tri/- earmarked for the energy sector.

She stressed the importance of these energy projects, which will benefit 983 schools, 324 health centres and district hospitals, particularly for neonatal and pediatric wards requiring modern electrical equipment.

She highlighted that this investment marks a significant step toward improving electricity access in Kigoma and praised Dr Biteko and the Ministry of Energy for their strategic efforts.

She encouraged citizens to engage in the electoral processes for local government election. Kigoma Regional Commissioner, Thobias Andengenye, expressed gratitude to President Samia for her commitment to development projects in the region, fulfilling her promise to unlock its potential as an economic hub.

He affirmed that the region will effectively manage the allocated funds to achieve the intended goals.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Engineer Felchesmi Mramba, noted that the launch of these projects will provide reliable electricity to a region long deemed marginalised. Currently, only a few areas remain off the grid as projects progress.

TANESCO Managing Director, Engineer Gissima Nyamo-Hanga, stated that the primary goal of the Malagarasi Power Project is to enhance reliable electricity access in Western Tanzania, including Kigoma, to spur economic growth.

This project is expected to create over 700 jobs and facilitate regional electricity trade within the Southern and Eastern Africa power pools.

He shared that the total cost of the Malagarasi project is 144.14 million US dollars (398bn/-), with the Tanzanian government contributing 4.14 million US dollars and the African Development Bank financing 140 million US dollars.

The contractors include Dongfang Electric International Corporation from China for the dam and power station and Shyama Power India Limited for the 132 kV power transmission line from Igamba to Kidahwe (54 km).

The project will also provide electricity to seven villages and connect 750 households.

The construction of the Kidahwe electricity substation consists of two parts: a 400 kV line and a 220/132/33 kV line, enabling Kigoma to connect to the national grid from the Nyakanazi station, with implementation currently at 87 per cent.

The contractor for this project is the Sean & Hyusong Consortium from Korea. He thanked President Samia for prioritising the energy sector, citing the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) as a key contributor to the national grid.

The Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals Kirumbe Ng’enda, expressed gratitude for government’s support for funding various projects, highlighting the rapid growth of the nation through initiatives in electricity, gas development and distribution.

Mohamed Sauko, a representative from the African Development Bank, thanked the government for collaborating on various projects and advised it to consider constructing a line to Burundi for electricity trade once reliable power is established.