Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of implementation of the 400kV power transmission line project from Chalinze to Dodoma.
This follows revelations that the project has reached only 24percent completion, falling short of the 31percent expected at this stage since its launch in November 2024.
Speaking after inspecting the project in Manchali Village, Chamwino District, Dr. Biteko instructed the contractor, TBEA Company from China, to make up for lost time to ensure the project is completed as scheduled. He also directed the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to use its internal revenues to compensate citizens affected by the project.
Dr. Biteko stated that the reasons given for delays—including compensation claims and rocky terrain—are unacceptable, emphasizing the growing demand for electricity in the Dodoma and western regions. He noted that the project is critical to ensuring a reliable energy supply in the country.
He explained that the new transmission line aims to significantly increase the amount of electricity transmitted from the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) to Dodoma. Currently, only 240 megawatts are being transmitted through the Chalinze line, but the new infrastructure will boost that capacity substantially and strengthen the national grid.
To bring the project back on track, Dr. Biteko instructed the contractor to submit a revised implementation plan within four days. He also ordered an increase in manpower to ensure that all 917 transmission towers are completed on schedule. Furthermore, he tasked the consulting engineer and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy to closely monitor the project and provide weekly progress updates.
For his part, TANESCO’s Managing Director, Engineer Lazaro Twange, stated that the 345-kilometer project is valued at approximately 513bn/-. It is expected to be completed by June 2026 and will play a key role in transporting the entire 2,115 megawatts generated by the JNHPP to the national grid for distribution across the country.
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