The construction of the 400 kV Tanzania-Zambia (TAZA) high-voltage power transmission project has reached 58 percent completion on the Tanzanian side, marking a major milestone in the country’s energy infrastructure.
Engineer Sadick Mwaifunga, representing the Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy, confirmed the progress during an inspection and evaluation visit involving officials from the Ministry of Energy, TANESCO, and the World Bank.
The inspection covered Iringa, Mbeya, and Rukwa regions, reviewing the transmission line from Kisada–Iringa, Iganjo–Mbeya, to the Malangali Sumbawanga substation, spanning 616 kilometres, as well as the construction of power substations along the route.
“Implementation is progressing well. Overall, the project has reached 58 percent completion, covering transmission line construction and substation development,” Engineer Mwaifunga said.
He noted that the transmission line construction from Iringa–Kisada, Kisada–Mbeya, Mbeya–Tunduma, and Tunduma–Sumbawanga has achieved 81 percent completion, while substations at Iringa, Kisada, Mbeya, Tunduma, and Sumbawanga are 35 percent complete.
A total of 1,614 towers will be erected along the 616-kilometre route, with more than 420 already installed. Work on the remaining towers is ongoing.
Engineer Elias Makunga, TANESCO project manager, urged contractors to speed up construction during the dry season to mitigate potential delays caused by the upcoming rainy season.
“Contractors should fully utilise the dry season to avoid disruptions during the rains. We cannot accept weather as an excuse for delays. Rapid progress now will ensure timely completion of this highly anticipated project,” he said.
The World Bank praised Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy for effective project supervision and the consistent progress made.
Contractor project manager, Engineer Ananthan Pannerselvam, thanked the government for timely disbursement of funds, assuring that the project is proceeding smoothly with no foreseeable challenges and pledged to complete it on schedule.