By Correspondence, Tabora
Tanzania plans to construct modern electricity substations in every district to strengthen power distribution and ensure reliable supply to households and businesses, the country’s energy minister said on Friday.
Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi said the government, through the state utility Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), would build receiving and distribution substations nationwide to improve the efficiency of electricity transmission and delivery.
Speaking during an inspection of the Uhuru substation in Urambo district in Tabora region, Ndejembi said the country currently generates sufficient electricity to meet domestic demand, but faces challenges in transmission and distribution infrastructure.
“At present, our country has surplus electricity. Generation exceeds national demand,” Ndejembi said. “However, the challenge lies in distribution, as power is transmitted over long distances. Previously, electricity for Urambo was supplied from Tabora and extended onward to Kaliua.”
The Uhuru Urambo substation has a capacity of 27 megawatts and serves Urambo and Kaliua districts. The minister said expanding substations at district level would reduce transmission distances, minimize outages and improve service reliability.
TANESCO Managing Director Lazaro Twange said the utility had received directives to address persistent power interruptions in the affected districts and to work closely with communities to safeguard electricity infrastructure.
“We will ensure that challenges related to electricity access in Kaliua and Urambo are resolved so that customers are served efficiently,” Twange said.
During the visit, local authorities also highlighted progress on a concrete pole manufacturing plant under a TANESCO subsidiary, TCPM, in Tabora municipality.
Tabora District Commissioner Upendo Wella said the government had invested about 7 billion Tanzanian shillings in the project, which is expected to create jobs for residents of Tabora and neighboring regions.
Ndejembi’s tour aimed to assess the progress of ongoing electricity projects in Tabora region, including the Uhuru substation and the concrete pole factory, as Tanzania continues to expand and modernize its power infrastructure.