Rukwa Region is on course to join Tanzania’s national electricity grid for the first time as a TZS2 trillion transmission project linking the region to the national network enters its final stages.
The 400-kilovolt Iringa-Kisada-Mbeya-Tunduma-Sumbawanga transmission project, known as TAZA, was 96.57 percent complete when Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) Managing Director Lazaro Twange met contractors to review progress.
Mr Twange has directed contractors to complete the remaining works by November 15, 2026, paving the way for Rukwa to receive electricity directly from the national grid.
The connection is expected to improve power reliability for households and businesses while supporting industries, mining, agriculture and other economic activities that depend on a stable electricity supply.
“This is a major strategic project, stretching 616 kilometres and costing about TZS2 trillion. Its completion will provide Rukwa residents with reliable electricity and open new opportunities for economic development,” Mr Twange said.
For Rukwa, which has largely relied on other power supply arrangements, joining the national grid could reduce the vulnerability of consumers and businesses to local supply constraints while providing greater capacity for future demand.
The project is also expected to strengthen electricity supply in other parts of southwestern Tanzania by increasing the transmission capacity of the national grid.
Improved power reliability could have wider implications for investment, particularly for businesses that require dependable electricity to operate machinery, process agricultural produce and expand production.
Public services could also benefit, with hospitals, schools and other institutions expected to have access to a more reliable electricity supply.
Mr Twange said delays in completing the project had partly been linked to logistical challenges, particularly the transportation of large equipment.
Some transformers weigh more than 200 tonnes and required special preparations along roads before they could be transported to project sites.
TANESCO is working with the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) to facilitate the safe transportation of the remaining equipment and complete outstanding works within the revised deadline.
The project was initially scheduled for completion in May 2026.
Its completion will also have regional implications, as the TAZA transmission line forms part of preparations to establish an electricity interconnection between Tanzania and Zambia.
The link is expected to provide a platform for cross-border electricity trading between the two countries and strengthen regional energy cooperation under the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
With the project now nearing completion, attention is shifting to the final works needed to bring Rukwa into the national grid and translate the expanded transmission capacity into more reliable electricity for consumers and businesses.