By Our Reporter
A TZS7.8 trillion industrial and energy investment in Ruvuma Region is expected to create 5,000 jobs for Tanzanians, as the government looks to expand industrial production and strengthen electricity generation.
Ruvuma Regional Commissioner Brigadier General Ahmed Abbas Ahmed said the project, being implemented by Chinese investor Hongwang Tanzania Holdings (HWTZ) in Songea District, would open up employment and investment opportunities while contributing to the country's electricity supply.
He made the remarks on October 23, 2026, during a visit to the project site by Energy Minister Dr Juma Zuberi Homera.
The investment, valued at $3 billion, equivalent to approximately TZS7.8 trillion, includes a power generation facility expected to produce 2,000MW using different energy sources, including coal, alongside aluminium and steel manufacturing plants.
Brigadier General Ahmed said part of the electricity generated would serve industries within the industrial park, while the surplus would be sold to the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) for distribution through the national grid.
He added that the investor had started constructing electricity transmission infrastructure to connect the project to a receiving substation in Songea town.
The development could position Ruvuma as an emerging industrial and energy investment destination, with potential benefits extending beyond direct employment to businesses supplying goods and services to the industrial park.
The regional commissioner described the investment as strategic to the region's economic development, citing its potential to expand employment, attract further investment and improve electricity availability.
He also called on residents to protect strategic investment projects and urged security organs to maintain a safe environment for investors and the infrastructure being developed.
The project comes amid efforts to increase domestic electricity generation and support industrialisation through investments in large-scale energy infrastructure.
A representative of HWTZ said the company planned to generate electricity using different sources, including coal, and pledged to comply with environmental guidelines and international standards during implementation.
The project's anticipated economic contribution will depend on the completion of its power generation and manufacturing facilities, the delivery of the promised jobs and its ability to supply electricity to the national grid.