Rukwa residents are set to benefit from a more reliable electricity supply as the Tanzania-Zambia (TAZA) Power Transmission Project reaches 95 per cent completion, paving the way for the region to join Tanzania’s national electricity grid by December 5, 2026.
The development is expected to end Rukwa’s dependence on electricity supplied from neighbouring Zambia, strengthen energy security and improve the availability and reliability of power for households, businesses and industries.
The Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) said the connection will mark a significant milestone in improving electricity services and creating better conditions for investment, business expansion and economic growth in the region.
To facilitate the final works, TANESCO has announced temporary electricity interruptions on November 14 and 15, 2026, in selected areas across the Northern, Western and Lake zones.
The power interruptions will run from 6:30am to 5:30pm on both days.
Speaking to journalists in Dodoma on November 12, 2026, TANESCO Deputy Managing Director for Distribution, Engineer Timothy Mgaya, said the temporary outages were necessary to allow the contractor to complete the remaining technical works and prepare the transmission infrastructure for operation.
"At the current stage of implementation, we are required to temporarily switch off electricity on Saturday and Sunday in the Northern, Western and Lake zones to allow the contractor to complete the remaining works," he said.
The regions expected to be affected are Singida, Manyara, Arusha, Kigoma, Kagera, Tabora, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Geita, Mwanza and Mara.
Engineer Mgaya assured customers that TANESCO had put measures in place to ensure they received timely information about the interruptions, adding that the company would work to complete the activities within the scheduled timeframe and restore electricity services promptly.
Providing details on the project's benefits, TAZA Project Manager Engineer Deogratius Nyamtumbaga said the connection to the national grid would give Rukwa access to electricity generated and supplied through Tanzania's national power system instead of relying on imports from Zambia.
"By December 5, 2026, Rukwa Region will have been connected to the national grid," he said.
The TAZA project involves the construction of a 400-kilovolt electricity transmission line from Iringa to Sumbawanga in Rukwa Region.
Upon completion, the infrastructure will increase Tanzania's electricity transmission capacity and strengthen the national power network, contributing to improved electricity supply and greater reliability.
For residents and businesses in Rukwa, the project is expected to provide a stronger foundation for economic activities, including small-scale enterprises, manufacturing, agriculture and other productive sectors that depend on reliable electricity.
The improved power infrastructure is also expected to make the region more attractive to investors, support job creation and expand opportunities for communities to participate in economic development.
The project is part of broader efforts to strengthen Tanzania's energy infrastructure and ensure that reliable electricity supports the country's development ambitions.