The Electrical Transmission and Distribution, Construction and Maintenance Company Limited (ETDCO) is stepping beyond national borders as it targets power infrastructure projects in neighbouring countries, in a bold move to position itself as a regional engineering powerhouse.
Speaking during the ongoing 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), ETDCO’s Chief Engineer, Mr Mustapha Himba, revealed that the company has already submitted tender applications in Burundi and is eyeing similar opportunities in Rwanda and other African markets.
“We are a Class One contractor with a strong team of technical experts. Our capacity allows us to bid and execute infrastructure projects not just within Tanzania, but across the region,” said Mr Himba.
This strategic shift comes after the company built a strong track record at home, having completed significant transmission and distribution projects in partnership with the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), the Rural Energy Agency (REA), the Ministry of Energy, and mining stakeholders such as STAMIGOLD and Geita Gold Mine (GGM).
To date, ETDCO has constructed 578 kilometres of electricity transmission lines, including an 80-kilometre, 132kV project from Mtwara to Mayembeka, a 115-kilometre line from Tabora to Urambo, and a 383-kilometre stretch from Tabora to Katavi.
“We’re currently implementing another key transmission line from Urambo to Nguruka, extending all the way to Kigoma, also at 132 kilovolts,” he added.
On the distribution front, ETDCO has delivered over 4,483 kilometres of lines, connecting hundreds of villages and thousands of customers, with REA-supported projects reaching 291 villages. These include 142 in Mbeya, 52 in Katavi, and others in Kigoma, Arusha, Mwanza, and Geita.
“In Mbeya alone, we’re now working on electrifying 105 sub-villages. So far, we’ve connected over 17,000 customers on single-phase lines and 3,200 on three-phase,” Mr Himba noted.
The company’s growing portfolio and expertise are now being leveraged to tap into external markets, beginning with Burundi, where it has applied for a contract under the country’s rural electrification agency. Rwanda is also under consideration as part of a broader regional market entry strategy.
Industry observers say the move is both timely and strategic, given Tanzania’s push to export its engineering capabilities and earn foreign revenue through services.
Mr Beatus Msafiri, one of the visitors at the DITF, said supporting companies like ETDCO to expand abroad is essential for national growth.
“When Tanzanian companies succeed in foreign markets, it’s not just the firm that benefits it’s the country’s name that is elevated. Government incentives such as subsidies could go a long way in helping these companies compete globally,” he said.
As Tanzania positions itself as a regional energy hub, ETDCO’s expansion efforts could provide a blueprint for other state-owned and private firms to follow.
With a growing portfolio of complex projects and a reputation for reliability, the company appears well-poised to become a key player in East and Central Africa’s energy infrastructure development.