Tanzania has the potential to produce sufficient electricity, as evidenced by the electric train service between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, says Dr. Doto Biteko, the Minister of Energy and Deputy Prime Minister. Dr. Biteko, who traveled on the electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train to Dodoma, expressed confidence in Tanzania’s power capacity, stating that the service reflects the country’s reliability in its energy supply.
“The fact that Tanzania can generate enough electricity is demonstrated by the electric SGR train journeys,” Dr. Biteko remarked. He added that stable electricity not only powers modern transportation but also lays the foundation for the growth of industrial clusters and the development of new industries.
Dr. Biteko highlighted the Ministry of Energy’s ongoing initiatives to ensure a steady and uninterrupted electricity supply. These efforts include plans to extend power from the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (JNHPP) to Dodoma, and further to Singida, Arusha, and Mwanza. Additionally, a high-capacity transmission line from Chalinze to Dodoma is under construction. This 345-kilometer, 400 kV overhead line, known as the Chalinze-Dodoma Line, is expected to be completed by 2024. Managed by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company, the line will feature double-circuit cables to ensure a reliable and efficient power supply.
The double-circuit cables will carry alternating current (AC), ensuring a stable and effective energy flow. Dr. Biteko emphasized that the Ministry’s efforts are aimed at ensuring that Tanzania’s energy sector keeps pace with the nation’s development, pointing to the successful launch of the electric train as an example.
Last month, President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially inaugurated the SGR electric train services.
During their visit to the JNHPP, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Investments (PIC) expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress, which is currently 98.99 percent complete. Committee Vice Chairperson Marry Masanja praised the government’s investment in the project, noting that it will not only increase the electricity supplied to the national grid but also create jobs for Tanzanians during its construction.