-
The government of Tanzania intends to electrify all villages without electricity access by the end of 2022.
- The government has set aside $77.6m to achieve this.
- The government is set to add 150MW and 200Mw of solar and wind, respectively, to achieve this.
The government of Tanzania, via the Ministry of Energy, has allocated TZS181bn (US$77.6 million) for rural electrification in the 2021/22 fiscal year. The country’s energy minister, Dr Medard Kalemani, stated that the government intends to electrify all unconnected 1,956 villages under the third phase of the national rural electrification project, REA III round II by the end of 2022. Dr Kalemani added that the REA had mapped the unconnected villages and engaged contractors set to deliver within the stipulated timeline.
The energy minister listed other projects that the government will implement includes the Ruhudji project (358MW), Kakono (87MW), Rumakali (222MW), Malagarasi (45MW), Kikonge (300MW), Kinyerezi I Extension (185MW), Mtwara (300MW) and renewable energy projects (solar 150MW, wind 200MW)
The minister noted that the government would increasingly add renewable energy, mainly solar and geothermal energy, to ensure that there is an adequate supply of electricity. The minister also noted that the power distribution network would not be left out as several projects that will improve transmission and distribution capacity have been initiated. The projects include the 400kV SingidaArusha- Namanga, 220kV Makambako- Songea, 220kV Bulyanhulu- Geita, 220kV Geita-Nyakanazi, 220kV Rusumo-Nyakanazi, and 400kV Iringa-Mbeya-Tunduma- Sumbawanga-MpandaKigoma-Nyakanazi, which is commonly known as Northwest grid.