By Alfred Zacharia
The Government of Tanzania, through the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), has announced a significant increase in the national grid's power generation capacity.
By December 2024, the installed capacity had reached 3,091.71 megawatts (MW), an increase of 248.75 MW or 8.75% from 2,842.96 MW recorded in September 2024.
This growth was attributed to the addition of 235 MW from the JNHPP project and the integration of the Kigoma power plant into the grid.
Deputy Minister for Energy,
Judith Kapinga, shared this update during a meeting in Dodoma on January 16, 2024.
The meeting, which involved members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, reviewed the Ministry of Energy’s report on electricity production and distribution between September and December 2024.
Kapinga emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring a stable and reliable power supply through strategic investments in the energy sector.
TANESCO has also intensified efforts to refurbish critical power generation facilities, including Kihansi, Kidatu, and Ubungo, to enhance the reliability of electricity supply.
Kapinga noted that these upgrades are essential for addressing the growing energy demands of the nation and ensuring consistent access to power for all sectors.
In terms of infrastructure, Kapinga highlighted significant progress in the development of electricity transmission and distribution networks. Transmission lines now span 8,025.38 kilometers, while distribution lines cover 197,597.34 kilometers.
This infrastructure expansion has enabled TANESCO to connect 109,918 new customers between September and December 2024, bringing the total number of electricity customers in Tanzania to 5,225,193.
The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals,David Mathayo David, commended the Ministry of Energy and TANESCO for their efforts in strengthening the power generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.
He praised the improvements as a critical step toward achieving reliable energy access and supporting the country’s development goals.