The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals has issued a high-stakes directive to the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), demanding a rapid acceleration of electricity distribution to secure the nation’s industrial and rural economic base.
Lawmakers are urging the state utility to significantly increase its annual connection targets, aiming to connect between 1.6 million and 1.7 million new customers to the grid each year, thereby eliminating energy bottlenecks. This ambitious goal is intended to serve as the main catalyst for President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s vision of achieving 8,000 megawatts of generation capacity by 2030, with the aim of transforming the country into a regional industrial powerhouse.
The legislative effort focuses on prioritizing industrial zones and mining sites, which the committee recognizes as essential drivers of national revenue and foreign direct investment. During a recent oversight tour of the Kinyerezi power stations and the Zanzibar Electricity Distribution Centre, Committee Chairperson Subira Mgalu highlighted that the economic benefits of electrification go far beyond just providing residential lighting.
The committee noted that while recent reforms have successfully curtailed the frequency of outages, the sheer pace of industrial demand continues to outstrip current supply, necessitating a more aggressive and innovative approach to infrastructure delivery and grid stabilisation.
“When electricity is used in homes and industries, it greatly contributes to increasing government revenue,” stated Committee Chairperson Subira Mgalu, underscoring the direct correlation between energy access and the nation’s fiscal health. To support this growth, the government is channelling massive capital into flagship projects, including the TZS 556 billion Chalinze-Dodoma transmission line and the transformative Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP).
These investments are not merely domestic priorities but are designed to anchor the East African Community’s cross-border energy trade, potentially positioning Tanzania as a central exporter of stable, cost-effective power to neighbouring Kenya and Uganda.
However, the path to full electrification is fraught with execution risks, prompting Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi to issue a stern warning against project delays and substandard workmanship. The Ministry has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward contractors who fail to meet strict deadlines, with the “Gridi Imara” initiative in Dar es Salaam serving as a litmus test for TANESCO’s ability to modernise ageing urban infrastructure.
As billions of shillings are funnelled into these high-capacity networks, the government remains adamant that every investment must yield tangible, long-term industrial output to justify the fiscal expenditure and secure Tanzania’s competitive edge in the regional market.
