Tanzania has reached a milestone in power sufficiency, driven by a series of major energy investments under the leadership of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has said.
Dr Biteko made the remarks during an official tour of the Kinyerezi I, Kinyerezi I Extension, and Kinyerezi II natural gas power generation facilities in Dar es Salaam, where he underscored the country's progress in securing reliable electricity for its citizens and industries.
“Tanzania now has sufficient electricity to meet national demand,” Dr Biteko announced. “This achievement is largely due to the strategic investments made under President Samia’s administration, including the completion of the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), which alone contributes 2,115 megawatts to the national grid.”he added
The JNHPP, constructed along the Rufiji River, is among the largest hydropower projects in sub-Saharan Africa, and its completion marks a significant turning point in Tanzania’s ambitions to become an energy-secure nation.
While acknowledging that some areas had previously experienced power supply challenges, Dr Biteko noted that those gaps were rapidly being addressed.
“The improvements we are witnessing today are the result of TANESCO’s commitment to strengthening grid stability and expanding service coverage,” he said.
He also announced plans to increase power generation at the proposed Kinyerezi III gas-fired plant, raising its output from the initially planned 600 megawatts to 1,000 megawatts to keep pace with the country’s growing population and energy needs.
“Let me be clear – President Samia is the architect of this transformation. She has prioritised energy as a catalyst for development, and her government allocated 2.3 trillion Tanzanian shillings to the Ministry of Energy in the last fiscal year,” Dr Biteko said.
Dr Biteko praised the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) for its improved operational efficiency, especially in dealing with outages and responding to customer needs.
“There has been a significant improvement in customer service. TANESCO’s response to emergencies is now faster, and I commend them for introducing toll-free services through their call centres.”he added
In addition to power generation facilities, the Deputy Prime Minister also visited the Kinyerezi Natural Gas Receiving Station, where he inspected gas transportation infrastructure and urged for increased gas production to meet rising demand from the power sector.
Dr Biteko was accompanied by senior government officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Engineer Felchesmi Mramba; Ilala District Commissioner, Edward Mpogolo; and TANESCO Managing Director, Lazaro Twange.