Mbeya. The construction of the Iringa-Tunduma-Zambia 400 kilovolt (kV) transmission line, widely known as the TAZA project, has reached a significant milestone, achieving 83.45 percent completion.
The project is expected to conclude by May 2026, a move anticipated to open a substantial new electricity trading market across the African continent.
The ambitious infrastructure development, which will link Tanzania’s national grid with Zambia and the wider Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP), was inspected on October 23, 2025, in the Iganjo area of Mbeya by the Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Energy, Dr James Mataragio.
Dr Mataragio underscored the national importance of the TAZA interconnector, noting that it will not only connect Tanzania to the Southern Africa Power Pool but also strengthen the existing regional links within the East Africa Power Pool (EAPP).
“I thank and commend His Excellency President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan for allocating funds for the implementation of major energy projects,” stated Dr Mataragio.
“Through this project, we will enhance the trade of buying and selling electricity between the countries of East Africa and those in Southern Africa.”
Discussing regional power trade, Dr Mataragio highlighted that Tanzania has already interconnected its grid with Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Ethiopia through the EAPP.
He further emphasised the long-term vision: “We will also link the grid with countries in North and West Africa so that the entire continent can trade electricity, which is part of implementing the Energy Plan aimed at bringing power to approximately 600 million Africans who still lack electricity access.”
The TAZA project is being implemented by the government of Tanzania in collaboration with development partners, including the World Bank, the European Union, and the French Development Agency, with a total investment of $584 million.
Beyond its regional significance, Dr Mataragio confirmed the project’s direct benefits to Tanzania, stating it will connect the Rukwa Region to the national grid and improve electricity supply in the Southern Highland regions of Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya, and Songwe.
Following his inspection, Dr Mataragio issued directives to the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) to closely supervise the contractor, particularly during the upcoming rainy season, to ensure the timely completion of the foundational construction stages. He also instructed the contractor to ensure all necessary materials are available at the project site.
In a separate but related instruction, Dr Mataragio directed Tanesco to extend electricity to the Ngozi geothermal project site, where current geothermal verification equipment is operating on diesel fuel.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary was accompanied on his tour by the Commissioner for Electricity and Renewable Energy, Eng. Innocent Luoga, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and Tanesco.
