TAZA Electricity Transmission Project Nears Completion: Connecting Iringa, Sumbawanga, and Zambia

The Ministry of Energy of Tanzania has announced that the TAZA (Tanzania-Zambia) electricity transmission project, which aims to connect the Rukwa Region to the national grid, is nearing completion.

The project involves the construction of a 400-kilovolt power transmission line from Iringa to Sumbawanga, designed to improve reliable electricity access in the southwestern regions of the country and strengthen energy links with Zambia.

The announcement was made on March 19, 2025, by the Deputy Minister of Energy, Hon. Judith Kapinga, during a visit by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals to inspect the construction of the Kisada power receiving and distribution station in Iringa, which is part of the project.

Hon. Kapinga emphasized that the TAZA project is a strategic initiative and part of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s commitment to ensuring that the Rukwa Region is connected to the national grid.

Hon. Kapinga further explained that the project will also enhance electricity supply in other regions, such as Songwe, which currently depends on power from Mbeya through a long transmission line, leading to challenges in ensuring reliable electricity.

Regarding compensation for residents affected by the project, the government has allocated TZS 21.4 billion to compensate 6,279 people whose land was acquired for the project. To date, 94.43% of the affected residents, equivalent to 5,929 people, have already received their compensation, and the government is continuing to process payments for the remaining individuals.

Hon. Kapinga reiterated the government’s commitment to providing reliable and sustainable electricity to all citizens to support economic activities, emphasizing that projects like TAZA are critical to the nation’s development.

About the Regions and Their Link to Zambia

Iringa is a region and city in the southern highlands of Tanzania that serves as a key hub for energy infrastructure, including hydropower projects. It is the starting point for the TAZA electricity transmission line.

Sumbawanga, the capital of the Rukwa Region, is situated in southwestern Tanzania near the border with Zambia. The Rukwa Region is currently reliant on diesel-powered electricity, and the TAZA project will connect it to the national grid, ensuring a more stable and sustainable power supply.

The TAZA electricity interconnector project aims to link the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) with the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) by constructing a 620km, 400kV double-circuit transmission line from Iringa to Sumbawanga, connecting the Tanzanian north-west grid to the Zambian interconnector.