Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE World Bank has committed to financing construction of a 400kV high-voltage transmission line linking Uganda and Tanzania, a strategic project aimed at enhancing regional electricity trade and improving energy security.
The announcement was made by the World Bank’s Energy Specialist for Tanzania, Dr Rhonda Jordan, during discussions with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Eng Felchesmi Mramba, at the ministry’s headquarters in Mtumba, Dodoma, yesterday.
Dr Jordan confirmed that the Bank’s Board of Directors would approve funding for the project after addressing earlier concerns regarding its potential environmental impact.
“The Bank has now approved the implementation of the project after satisfying itself that it does not have the environmental impacts that were previously claimed,” Dr Jordan stated.
In a related development, Dr Jordan invited the Ministry of Energy to participate in the upcoming United Nations conference in New York in September 2025.
According to a project prospectus from the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the estimated cost of the Masaka–Mutukula– Kyaka–Nyakanazi–Mwanza transmission line is around 325 million US dollars (about 837.5bn/-).
The project involves the construction of over 560 kilometres of transmission lines and associated substations, running from Masaka in Uganda to Mwanza in Tanzania, passing through Mutukula, Kyaka and Nyakanazi.
It is part of the broader North West Grid (NWG) initiative and will be implemented by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) under the coordination of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP).
Once complete, the transmission line will allow Uganda to sell surplus electricity to Tanzania, strengthening the reliability of power supply in both countries and boosting regional economic growth.
Eng Mramba welcomed the World Bank’s commitment, affirming Tanzania’s readiness to work with the Bank on other energy projects, including the Tanzania–Zambia interconnector (TAZA).
The meeting was also attended by the Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mr Innocent Luoga, and Chief Energy Engineer John Mageni.
The project, still in the planning stage, marks a significant milestone in regional power integration efforts, aiming to improve crossborder electricity trade and promote sustainable development in East Africa.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
