The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals has backed the construction of the Iganjo-Saza electricity transmission line, saying reliable power will be critical to expanding mining, agriculture and business activities in Mbeya and Songwe.
The 220-kilovolt project, being implemented by the Ministry of Energy through Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), is expected to strengthen electricity supply in the two regions and address power constraints affecting productive activities.
Committee chairperson Subira Mgalu said the project would have a direct impact on communities by improving access to reliable electricity while creating opportunities for jobs and higher incomes.
She made the remarks on September 11, 2026, at Saza in Mkwajuni, Songwe District, during the signing of the project implementation contract.
Ms Mgalu said reliable electricity was particularly important in areas where mining and other economic activities are expanding.
“The completion of this project will stimulate economic and social activities, including mining, agriculture and trade, while creating more opportunities for employment and income for people in the areas that will benefit,” she said.
The committee has been pressing the Government to prioritise power projects that directly support production, particularly in areas with significant mining activity.
According to Ms Mgalu, reliable electricity can help miners reduce production costs and improve efficiency, making access to power an important part of efforts to expand economic activity in the region.
She, however, urged the Ministry to find ways of improving electricity reliability in Songwe before the Iganjo-Saza project is completed.
The project is scheduled to take 18 months, meaning residents, businesses and miners may have to rely on interim measures while construction continues.
The Government has already begun one such intervention through construction of a 33kV electricity transmission line from Mwakibete in Mbeya towards Songwe District. The line is expected to be completed by the end of September.
The Iganjo-Saza project is therefore expected to complement these measures by strengthening the wider transmission network and providing additional capacity for growing demand.
For Songwe and neighbouring areas, the project could have implications beyond electricity supply. More reliable power could reduce interruptions to businesses, support mineral processing and other value-adding activities, and make it easier for farmers and traders to expand operations.
The key test, however, will be whether the investment translates into more reliable electricity, lower production costs and increased economic opportunities for communities once the project is completed.