The Arusha Region has now secured a reliable power supply following the completion of the expansion project at the Njiro Power Transmission and Distribution Substation. A new transformer with a capacity of 210 MVA has been installed, an upgrade from the previous 90 MVA capacity.
Speaking during the Union Day celebrations of Tanganyika and Zanzibar held in Arusha Region on April 28, 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, said the government invested TZS 5.2 billion in the expansion project to enhance the substation’s capacity to meet the growing electricity demand.
"In this zone, the electricity demand in Arusha Region stands at 107 megawatts, Tanga 126 megawatts, Manyara 14 megawatts, and Kilimanjaro 68 megawatts.
Today, we have inaugurated the expansion of the Njiro Substation, which now has ten distribution lines, enabling Arusha Region to meet electricity demands of up to 200 megawatts compared to the current demand of 107 megawatts," said Dr. Biteko.
Dr. Biteko further stated that the government is actively working on upgrading the electricity infrastructure across the country, following directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to rehabilitate all aging electricity transmission systems.
"We may have sufficient electricity generation, but if infrastructure is weak, it becomes a challenge. That is why the President has directed us to improve electricity infrastructure to ensure a reliable power supply," he said.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Energy is committed to ensuring that every Tanzanian benefits from energy, particularly electricity.
"When I was appointed, I told TANESCO that they would not be sleeping, and today, everyone can see that the electricity situation has greatly improved compared to ten years ago.
TANESCO is indeed working tirelessly and doing a commendable job," said Dr. Biteko.
The completion of this project is expected to significantly strengthen the electricity supply in the northern regions, including Arusha, thereby fostering economic growth in sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, and trade.
Earlier, Project Manager Jaffari Msuya explained that the project officially began in 2023 and was completed in 2025.
"This project was implemented under the Ministry of Energy through TANESCO and funded internally," said Msuya.
He noted that the project will greatly enhance electricity availability in Arusha, Tanga, Manyara, and Kilimanjaro regions.
Meanwhile, the project contractor, Mao Bo from Xian Electric Engineering Co. Ltd, confirmed that the project was completed on schedule.
"Mao stated that the project began in 2023 and has now reached 98% completion, with the new transformer having been integrated into the system as of April 4, 2025," he said.
"Citizens have already started benefiting from the improved electricity supply, especially in the northern zone. Previously, there were challenges due to low capacity, but now, with this project, people will have access to sufficient and reliable electricity," added Bo
0 Comments:
Post a Comment