 Tanzania has started to implement a rural electrification programme after acquiring $38.7 million from the Swedish government to build transmission lines in Iringa and Ruvuma regions in southern Tanzania. The funding would see the construction of a 132 kilovolt transmission line and other rural supply lines in Makambako in Iringa Region and Songea in Ruvuma Region.
The funding would see the construction of a 132 kilovolt transmission line and other rural supply lines in Makambako in Iringa Region and Songea in Ruvuma Region. This will be the first time that a region in southern Tanzania will be connected to the national grid. The Swedish funding will also be used for capacity development of the Rural Energy Agency. Ramadhani Khijjah, the Permanent Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs, told APA that more than $37 million will be used to finance the Makambako-Songea transmission line as well the rural electrification of districts in Iringa and Ruvuma regions. Mr Kijjah said urban centres and villages along the transmission line will also benefit from the project. “This project would lead to economic growth, improve living standards and social development in the six beneficiary districts in Ruvuma and Iringa regions,” he said. The project also involves the laying of an optical fibre along the power lines, which will multiply the capacity for data communication in the region, he adds. The project, to be implemented by the Tanzania Electrical Supply Company Ltd (Tanesco), will extend the national grid network from Makambako substation to Songea substation and cover Namtumbo, Mbinga and Mbamba bay. The project will also include the installation of a new substation in Madaba about halfway between Makambako and Songea in order to supply power to villages in Madaba and Ludewa. Tanzania plans to increase electricity access to its population from 10 per cent to 20 per cent by the year 2010. The government has already allocated seed money for the Rural Energy Fund.
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