In order to guarantee a steady and dependable energy generation and supply, the government has reiterated its commitment to investing in a variety of electrical sources, including solar power farms, through the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO).
In cooperation with private investors, solar farm projects have already started to be implemented in the Lake Zone regions, especially in the Bukombe and Ushetu District Councils. When journalists from the Geita Region visited the Bukombe Solar Power Farm project, TANESCO Acting Communications and Public Relations Officer Mr. Augustino Kasale disclosed this information.
According to him, the government is giving active investment in electricity generation first priority. This includes the construction of a significant solar project in the Shinyanga Region’s Kishapu District, which would initially produce 50 megawatts (MW).
“The project will eventually be expanded to generate up to 150 megawatts to ensure sufficient power supply, especially in areas with high electricity demand,” Mr. Kasale stated. According to Eng Givason Bugale, the Bukombe Solar Power Farm’s supervising engineer, the facility presently produces 6.5 megawatts and provides five megawatts to the national grid.
He clarified that the third plant is being built in the Ikina area of Geita District, and the Bukombe Solar Power Plant is the second to be finished following the Ushetu project. Eng Bugale clarified that the Bukombe and Ushetu solar power projects possess identical capacities; however, the new project currently being constructed in Ikina, Geita District, is set to have a capacity of 10 megawatts.
“The primary objective is to boost electricity production within the national grid system while simultaneously lowering the workload on substation machines, thereby extending their lifespan,” he said in closing.
