Government Advances Grid Electricity to Southern Regions

The Tanzanian government continues its efforts to extend the national electricity grid to Mtwara and Lindi, connecting them through Songea via Tunduru and Masasi.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga, affirmed this initiative on November 4, 2024, in response to parliamentary questions on rural electrification. Kapinga assured Liwale MP Zuberi Kuchauka that plans for a local power station are underway to improve regional supply.

Addressing compensation, Kapinga confirmed that those displaced by the project will receive payouts, following President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive. Kapinga also addressed Meatu MP Leah Komanya’s concerns about frequent blackouts, attributing these issues to outdated infrastructure.

She noted that upgrading projects, including a new power line from Ibadakuli and a station at Imalilo in Bariadi, are in progress to enhance Meatu’s electricity reliability.

Kapinga further reported on rural electrification plans for underserved areas in Bunda and Tarime, with the Rural Energy Agency (REA) expanding electrification to 15 neighborhoods.

By December, the government will initiate an additional 4,000-village program to broaden electricity access across Tanzania, bringing development and stability to rural regions.