The construction of the 400kV Tanzania-Zambia (TAZA) power transmission project has reached 58% implementation on the Tanzanian side.
The progress was announced by Engineer Sadick Mwaifunga, Representative of the Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy, during an inspection and evaluation visit involving officials from the Ministry, the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), and the World Bank.
The visit covered project sites in Iringa, Mbeya, and Rukwa regions, where works include the construction of a power transmission line from Kisada-Iringa, Iganjo-Mbeya, to the Malangali substation in Sumbawanga, as well as associated substations in the three regions.
Mwaifunga stated that the transmission line sections Iringa-Kisada, Kisada-Mbeya, Mbeya-Tunduma, and Tunduma-Sumbawanga have reached 81% completion, while the substations in Iringa, Kisada, Mbeya, Tunduma, and Sumbawanga are at 35%.
He further explained that the project will include a total of 1,614 towers carrying 400kV electricity. To date, over 420 towers have been installed, with work continuing.
Engineer Elias Makunga, TANESCO’s Project Manager, urged contractors to accelerate the works during the dry season to mitigate delays caused by the upcoming rainy season.
He emphasized that excuses related to weather disruptions would not be acceptable, stressing the importance of using the dry months to ensure the timely delivery of the project.
The World Bank commended the Ministry of Energy for effectively supervising the project and maintaining steady implementation progress.
Engineer Ananthan Pannerselvam, Project Manager for the contractor responsible for the Kisada-Iringa to Mbeya section, thanked the government for disbursing funds on time.
He confirmed that the works are progressing without major challenges and assured completion within the agreed timeframe.
The Tanzania-Zambia Power Interconnector
The project involves the construction a 620 km of 400 kV double circuit transmission line, from Iringa in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, to the Zambian border, and continue on from the Zambian border to Sumbawanga.
This will link the Tanzanian grid to Zambia’s grid, and it includes the construction
of a sub-station at Tunduma, close to the Zambian border.
The project aims to strengthen regional energy trade, improve electricity supply reliability, and support economic growth by providing a stable power connection between the two countries and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
The project is being implemented by TANESCO in collaboration with Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), with financing from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Union, and other partners.
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