Deputy Minister of Energy, Ms. Judith Kapinga has said that the Government through the Tanzania Electricity Corporation (TANESCO) is continuing to rehabilitate electricity distribution infrastructure to overcome the challenge of power outages in the country.
Ms. Kapinga said this, April 10, 2025 in parliament in Dodoma while responding to a question by the Member of Parliament for Handeni Urban, Mr. Reuben Kwagilwa who asked when the Government will eliminate the challenge of power outages in Handeni district.
“The challenge of power outages in Handeni District is due to the deterioration and length of the power distribution infrastructure.
In addressing this challenge, the Government through TANESCO is continuing to rehabilitate electricity infrastructure including replacing wooden poles and installing concrete ones”, said Ms. Kapinga
He continued to say that the Government through the robust grid project is continuing with the construction of the Mkata, Handeni power receiving and cooling station which is in the initial stages of construction.
He said the construction of the Kilindi, Tanga power receiving and cooling station has reached 35 percent and the construction of the 132 kilovolt power transmission line from Mkata through Handeni to Kilindi has reached 30 percent.
Responding to a question by the Member of Parliament for Mlalo, Mr. Rashid Shangazi who asked about the Government seeing the importance of accelerating the construction of the Mkata, Lushoto and Kilindi power stations due to the importance of these stations in enhancing access to electricity in the Tanga Region, Ms. Kapinga said that the Ministry of Finance has already assured the Ministry of Energy to pay the contractors implementing the projects on time so that they can complete them.
Regarding the delay in the construction of the power transmission line from Mkata to Kilindi due to the payment of compensation, Ms. Kapinga said the compensation for the citizens of the electricity transmission line from Mkata, Handeni to Kilindi is approximately 2.63 billion shillings which the Ministry of Finance has assured the Ministry of Energy to pay the compensation.
Ms. Kapinga said the compensation for the citizens who have already paid for the construction of the Mkata, Handeni power station has been paid.
Responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for Hanang’, Engineer Samwel Xaday who asked when the Government will resolve the challenge of power outages in Hanang’ District, Ms. Kapinga said Hanang’ District is in the second phase of the stable grid construction project where a power receiving and cooling station will be built whereas the Government is currently continuing with the first phase of the stable grid project.
Responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for Special Seats for Iringa Region, Ms. Grace Tendega regarding the power outages in the region, especially in Kalenga Constituency, Ms. Kapinga said the Government has strategies to improve the availability of electricity in Iringa Region including improving the electricity infrastructure by replacing poles and worn-out cables.
Ms. Kapinga stressed that from Iringa Region, Tunduma to Katavi, the Government is implementing a major TAZA electricity transmission project which involves the construction of power substations that will improve access to electricity in all areas of the region, adding that the project will connect the Tanzanian and Zambian grids.
