Tanzania’s state-owned utility TANESCO announced Saturday that construction of the Kishapu Solar Power Project in Shinyanga Region has reached 63.3% completion, with the first 50 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity expected to come online by the end of October 2025.
The $47 million Phase I, funded by the Tanzanian government, is part of a broader $129 million (TZS 323 billion) solar initiative aimed at adding 150 MW of renewable energy to the national grid by late 2025.
The second phase, projected to deliver an additional 100 MW, is currently in the final stages of contractor procurement and is estimated to cost $82 million (TZS 204 billion).
“We thank the President for full funding of both phases. The project is progressing well, and the initial capacity will feed into the National Grid by October,” said TANESCO Managing Director Lazaro Twange during a site visit.
“We’re also advancing procurement for the second phase to meet growing national demand.”he added
Located in Ngunga Village, the Kishapu project began construction on December 8, 2023. It represents one of the largest solar infrastructure investments in Tanzania to date and is a key component of the government’s broader energy diversification strategy.
According to Project Manager Emmanuel Andarson, construction delays earlier this year led to a revised timeline, with the contractor granted an extension. The project remains on track to meet the new October 29, 2025, completion target.
Tanzania, like many African nations, is accelerating investment in renewables to reduce dependency on hydropower and fossil fuels, while supporting industrialization and expanding access to electricity in underserved regions.