RUKWA, Tanzania – Deputy Minister for Energy Salome Makamba has stated that the high voltage power transmission line project from Iringa to Rukwa is on final leg and expected to start operation in few weeks to come.
Addressing the press during a government tour in Laela, Sumbawanga District, Makamba explained that the project is on schedule, with electricity expected to be connected to the national grid in May should the pace of work be sustained.
This development comes after the directive of Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President to have Rukwa connect to the national electricity grid through the Tanzania-Zambia interconnection, widely known as TAZA. For many years, the region heavily depends on imported electricity from Zambia, following regional power-sharing agreement, rendering power supply vulnerable to external factors. The connection will provide the region with electricity directly from the national grid of Tanzania.
The 400KV high-voltage power transmission line will traverse from Iringa passing through Mbeya and Tunduma to reach Sumbawanga in Rukwa region. The transmission line is intended to boost electricity supply in southern part of Tanzania as well as link Tanzania and Zambia power grids. It will further be useful in supporting regional electricity trade via the Southern African Power Pool. Local leaders in the region have been advocating for a national grid connection, citing reliability as a key factor for industrial, mining development and service provision. Engineers and contractor working on the project are finishing off the final works, and government looks forward to commissioning by May.
