The Tanzania-Zambia (TAZA) 400-kilovolt high-voltage power transmission project, valued at approximately 2 trillion Tanzanian shillings, has reached 95 percent completion. The project involves constructing a 620-kilometer power line from Dodoma to Iringa and then to Kisada. Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) plans to energize the power line starting in November this year. The project aims to improve power supply across various regions in Tanzania.
TANESCO’s Deputy Managing Director for distribution, Engineer Timothy Mgaya, recently toured the Zuzu substation in Dodoma to update journalists on the project's progress. He explained that the Zuzu substation will be upgraded to 400 kilovolts as part of the preparations. This upgrade will necessitate power interruptions in several regions, including Singida, Manyara, Arusha, Kigoma, Kagera, Tabora, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Geita, Mwanza, and Mara, on November 14 and 15.
The power interruptions, scheduled from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM, are required because some infrastructure has been operating at 220 kilovolts while awaiting upgrades at the Iringa substation. With the Iringa upgrades nearing completion, the Zuzu substation is being upgraded to 400 kilovolts. The TAZA project includes constructing a 400-kilovolt power transmission line approximately 620 kilometers long, running from Iringa, Mbeya, and Tunduma to Sumbawanga, with an interconnector from Tunduma to Zambia.
The project also involves substations in Iringa, Kisada, Tunduma, Mbeya, and Rukwa. Deogratius Nyamtumbaga, a Project Engineer for Substations on the TAZA project, stated that after the weekend's work, TANESCO will begin switching on the TAZA infrastructure starting November 25. The rollout will begin with the 400kV Dodoma–Iringa line, eventually extending to Sumbawanga and establishing the interconnector link to Zambia.
The Dodoma substation serves as the primary hub distributing 400kV power originating from the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Plant via Chalinze to the southern highlands, northern, and western parts of the country. Beyond the TAZA developments, the weekend's work will enable the activation of a second 400kV transmission line from Dodoma to Singida, eliminating reliance on a single line.
A second 250 MVA transformer will be installed at the Singida substation, doubling transmission capacity from the current 200 megawatts to 400 megawatts for the Lake, Northern, and Western regions. According to Eng Nyamtumbaga, the construction of transmission line towers began in November 2023 and has reached 97 percent completion. The construction of substations started in April 2024 and has reached 94 percent completion.
TANESCO will begin energizing the 400-kilovolt power line from Dodoma to Iringa and from Iringa to Kisada on November 26. Energization will begin from Mbeya to Sumbawanga on November 29. By December 5, residents of Sumbawanga are expected to start receiving power directly from Tanzania’s national grid instead of relying on electricity imported from Zambia.
Key points
- The TAZA project will improve power supply across various regions in Tanzania.
- The project involves constructing a 620-kilometer power line and upgrading substations.
- The project is valued at approximately 2 trillion Tanzanian shillings and has reached 95 percent completion.
