Around 750 households in Kigoma have received electricity through the Malagarasi Hydropower Project (49.5 MW), marking a major milestone in the government’s efforts to expand access to power across the country.
Deputy Minister of Energy, Salome Makamba, officially switched on electricity in Mdyandelema Hamlet, Kazuramimba Ward, Uvinza District. The hamlet is among 18 across seven villages now electrified under the project.
Speaking during the launch, Salome said the initiative aligns with directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has tasked the Ministry of Energy with ensuring that all hamlets in the country have electricity by 2030.
“The government is committed to providing reliable power to communities along development projects. I urge residents to safeguard the infrastructure to help realize the President’s vision of making Kigoma a regional electricity hub,” she said.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the upcoming Kidahwe substation, which will have a capacity of 192 MW, as a key distribution center for western Tanzania.
She also emphasized affordability and access, noting that households can be connected to electricity for only TZS 27,000.
She clarified that even residents who have already extended wiring inside their homes remain eligible for official connections.
On clean cooking solutions, Salome encouraged residents to adopt electric stoves, energy-efficient cookstoves, and gas cylinders.
She urged the Rural Energy Agency (REA) and TANESCO to provide energy-use education down to the hamlet level.
Uvinza District Commissioner, Dinah Mathamani, expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for prioritizing Kigoma in national development projects.
“Electricity availability was previously unpredictable, but now residents can run businesses, access lighting, and cook with electricity, improving their livelihoods and protecting the environment,” she said.
Representing the Ministry of Energy, Engineer Edson Ngabo explained that the Malagarasi project includes a hydropower dam, a 132 kV transmission line, and electricity distribution to seven villages comprising 18 hamlets. The project also involved construction of roads, schools, and hospitals.
He added that the initiative has already connected electricity to all 18 hamlets at a total cost of TZS 6.8 billion, bringing sustainable power to Kigoma residents.
