SUMBAWANGA: THE TANZANIA-Zambia (TAZA) power project once completed will enable Tanzania to connect with 13 member countries of the Southern Power Pool (SAPP) via Zambia and the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) via Kenya, the government said yesterday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, revealed this yesterday shortly after laying the foundation stone for the TAZA project, which involves the construction of a 400 KV line from Iringa-Mbeya-Songwe and Sumbawanga (Rukwa), covering a distance of 616 kilometres.
Dr Biteko further stated that through the TAZA power project, Tanzania will become an electricity hub for member countries of the SAPP via Zambia and the Eastern African Power Pool.
The colourful event was held at Makazi Mapya area in Malangali Ward in Sumbawanga Municipality, Rukwa Region and was witnessed by hundreds of citizens.
The TAZA project involves the construction of electricity infrastructure between Tanzania and Zambia.
According to Dr Biteko, the project aims to exchange and sell electricity to each other, noting that Tanzania can benefit from selling power to South Africa.
“Tanzania should sell electricity to SAPP and EAPP member countries when there is a surplus in power supply or buy electricity if the demand is greater than what is produced in the country,” added Dr Biteko.
“Tanzania is the link between SAPP and EAPP member countries via Zambia and Kenya respectively, which is why this project has unique importance as our country is at a great advantage to be a link for electricity trade in the East African region,” he said.
“This move will give us the opportunity to generate more electricity than our actual demand because there is a reliable market for this energy,” he added.
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The Deputy Premier said that the government continues with the execution of various projects, including the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Plant (JNHPP), which has started generating electricity, adding 705 megawatts to the national grid.
He mentioned that following the significant addition, the country now enjoys a surplus of power, noting that the fourth turbine at JNHPP will be switched on next month, adding another 235 megawatts to the national grid.
Dr Biteko also listed other projects such as the Kishapu Solar power project that will produce 150 megawatts, Malagarasi (49.5 MW), and further additions from natural gas.
However, he insisted that challenges facing transmission and reception across Tanzania must be quickly resolved for effective distribution and supply of electricity to the citizens.
He said the TAZA project will ensure enough and reliable national grid power supply to Rukwa Region.
For decades, Rukwa Region has been receiving power from Lunzua Hydro Power Station in neighbouring Zambia. The power station is located in Mbala Township, 98 kilometres from Sumbawanga town.
This, according to Dr Biteko, has been costing the government a sum of 15bn/- annually to foot the bill.
“Implementation of this project will enable the region to be self-sufficient, except in times of emergencies,” he said.
The Coordinator for the Tanzania-Zambia project (TAZA), which involves the construction of electricity transmission infrastructures between the two countries, Engineer Elias Makunga, said the actual execution of the project started in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in May 2026.
He mentioned that the construction of the project will also involve the construction of five cooling power stations in Tagamanda, Kisada, Igando, Nkangamo, and Malangali.
According to Engineer Makunga, TAZA will strengthen access to electricity in Iringa, Njombe and Mbeya, noting that it will also feed electricity into the power grid in Songwe and Rukwa.
“TAZA project will be the liberation of accessing reliable electricity in Rukwa and it will help the region to get electricity of high volumes that will help investors and industrialists to carry out their business effectively,” he added.
On his part, World Bank Tanzania Resident Director Mr Nathan Belete said the fund amounting to more than 1.4tri/- has been obtained from development partners. The WB contributed 1tri/-, France Development Agency 3.2bn/-, the European Union 35bn/-, while other funds came from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).