Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has reiterated its commitment to increasing power generation capacity through implementation of various projects including the 2115 MW Julius Nyerere Hydro Power Project (JNHPP).
Addressing the National Assembly, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the project has reached 45 per cent and that the sixth phase government will make sure it is completed as planned.
“We will also continue to implement a project to build transmission lines from JNHPP to Chalinze substation and routes to areas that are not connected to the national grid; this will reduce costs and stimulate economic activities in such areas.”
President Samia said the government is also focusing on implementing other hydropower projects in Ruhuji (358 MW), Rumakali (222MW), Kikonge (300MW), and also on natural gas in Mtwara 13MW, Somanga Kungu 330MW, Kinyerezi III 600MW and Kinyerezi IV 300MW.
According to President Samia, the government has increased electricity generation to 1602 MW in the past five years. She said the current electricity demand in the country stands at 1200MW and that the surplus is over 400MW.
“We have also succeeded in connecting 10,294 village’s equivalent to 83.3 per cent of the registered 12,317 villages in the country,” she said.
She added: “ Due to climatic change, we need to combine energy sources to ensure reliable electricity supply at all times, so we will look at the possibility of implementing renewable energy projects based on solar, wind and geothermal. We will do so because the sources are sustainable. The country is expecting to generate 1,100MW from renewable sources in the coming five years.”
On Liquefied Natural Gas Project (LNG), the Head of State said the talks have been going on for six years and that it high time the project get started.
According to Deputy Minister for Energy, Stephen Byabato, almost 42.3bn/- will be set aside in the 2021/22 ministry’s budget as compensation payment for Chalinze residents who paved the way for setting up the JNHPP infrastructure.
Mr Byabato said in Parliament on Monday that the national power utility, Tanesco is implementing the construction of 400- KV from JNHPP to Chalinze, including the construction of the Chalinze substation at Chau village.
