AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) is well prepared to ensure that it will stimulate changes in rural and urban communities through steady supply of power.
Tanesco director general Dr Tito Mwinuka said this recently here during the meeting with the company’s officials and editors from various media outlets.
He said that to fulfill its role, the state owned power utility is implementing several strategic projects which will strengthen power supply and thus stimulate individual income and the country’s development.
He said Tanesco is implementing several mega projects including the Julius Nyerere Power project worth 6.5tri/- which is expected to generate a total of 2115 megawatts.
The DG said as the nation is building an industrial economy, one of the government’s strategies is to ensure that electricity projects reach every corner of the country.
“We are also implementing the Rusumo power project to generate 87 megawatts and its implantation has reached 76.8 percent. This project will spend 263bn/- to its completion,” he said, noting that the power utility firm is also working to implement other projects such as Ruhuji power project to generate 358 megawatts, Rumakali (222MW), Mtwara (300MW), Somanga (300MW), Kakono (87MW) and the Malagarasi (45MW).
“With all the highlighted projects, we expect to boost production of power to 5,000 megawatts by 2025. We have been also connecting households with power at a very low cost with some households getting the service for free, the major objective to support the government’s efforts which aims to reach all people with power services and thus stimulate economic development,” he added.
Dr Mwinuka said the company is also implementing various power transmission projects including the 400Kv Kenya -Tanzania Interconnector, 400Kv Tanzania – Zambia Interconnector, 400Kv Julius Nyerere to Chalinze and 400kV Kigoma to Nyakanazi.
He further said the construction of a transmission line to be used in the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) – first phase has been completed by 100 percent.
“The current capacity of the firm to produce electricity has reached 1602.4 megawatts while the actual demand stands at 1,180.5 megawatts. So you can see that we still have extra 520.5 megawatts,” he added.
The situation, according to Dr Mwinuka assures the public and investors of reliable power thus stimulating establishment of several investment projects in the country.
He said the firm has so far connected 87 percent of residents in rural and urban areas and it is now working to ensure that it reaches the remaining 10 percent within the next five years.
“We are working to fulfill our vision with support from three-sister firms which are the Electrical Transmission and Distribution Construction and Maintenance Company (ETDCO) with a role based on electrical infrastructure construction and maintenance; the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited (TGDC) and the Tanzania Concrete Poles Manufacturing Company (TCPMC),” he said.
