The Ministry of Energy is currently in discussions regarding plans for nuclear power production with prospective investors, representing a crucial advancement in accordance with the directives provided by President Samia Suluhu Hassan aimed at diversifying the country’s energy mix.
In July of this year, President Samia inaugurated the Uranium Pilot Plant (MRP) located in the Namtumbo District of the Ruvuma Region, marking a significant milestone that positions Tanzania as a potential leader in uranium production. Uranium serves as an essential mineral for nuclear energy, cancer therapies, and scientific investigations.
President Samia stated that the launch signifies a crucial milestone in the nation’s journey towards a contemporary, technology-oriented economy founded on domestic resources and scientific progress.
“Today signifies not merely a celebration but the beginning of a transformative era for our region and nation,” she remarked. She highlighted that uranium is a vital resource, pointing out that Tanzania is one of the limited African countries with verified deposits. With the Mkuju River region expected to yield as much as 300,000 tonnes each year, Tanzania seeks to establish itself as a regional center for uranium exploration and processing.
During a visit to the JNHPP yesterday, Minister Ndejembi reiterated the government’s dedication to providing dependable electricity for all Tanzanians. He emphasized that the sixth-phase administration led by President Samia has undertaken significant investments to guarantee the timely completion of energy projects, including the JNHPP, which will be able to supply power to both the project area and the entire country.
Mr. Ndejembi, who visited the dam to evaluate its electricity production, confirmed that the project has been fully completed and is generating 2,115 megawatts of electricity as intended. He stated that the facility continues to provide benefits to Tanzanians by ensuring a consistent and dependable power supply.”Since the commencement of generation here, there have been notable enhancements in electricity distribution, and the government is now concentrating on building transmission lines to extend power access to more regions throughout the country,” he remarked.
He mentioned that the government made an investment in JNHPP to eradicate power rationing, a problem he indicated has now been resolved. Plans are currently in progress to construct a substation that will accept and reduce electricity for distribution, especially to the industrial areas of Mkuranga and Chalinze in the Coast Region.
Regarding the current construction of the 400-kilovolt transmission line from Chalinze to Dodoma, Mr. Ndejembi stated that the project is advancing satisfactorily as part of the government’s initiatives to guarantee dependable electricity supply to the Central, Northern, and Lake Zones. He further mentioned that preparations are in progress for an additional significant transmission line from JNHPP to Mkuranga, which will provide electricity to the Mkuranga Industrial Zone and the city of Dar es Salaam.
The minister additionally stated that the JNHPP ensures a reliable electricity supply for Tanzania for more than a century. In the meantime, TANESCO’s Managing Director, Lazaro Twange, mentioned that the government has allocated 13.8 trillion shillings to power projects, which he characterized as significant and adequate for the present development requirements. He noted that TANESCO will persist in enhancing infrastructure to accommodate the increasing demand for electricity, which includes the construction of transmission lines to industrial areas in the Coast Region to draw in more investors.
Mr. Twange stated that out of the 41 projects currently in progress, six are dedicated to power generation, while 35 pertain to the construction of transmission lines. He mentioned that Tanzania now benefits from surplus electricity and is no longer subjected to power rationing, with only brief outages occurring during necessary maintenance. Furthermore, he noted that TANESCO is enhancing electricity access in industrial regions through significant transmission projects from Mkuranga to Chalinze, Kibaha, and Kwala, where over 3 billion shillings has been invested to ensure a reliable power supply.
Mr. Twange additionally highlighted advancements in new renewable energy initiatives, such as the 50-megawatt Kishapu solar project located in Shinyanga and the 49.5-megawatt Malagarasi hydropower project situated in Kigoma, both of which are set to be linked to the national grid shortly. “Tanzania possesses adequate electricity, and any investor in need of power for industrial or other purposes is invited. TANESCO is prepared to deliver service without any issues related to shortages,” he stated.
