Dar es Salaam — Tanzania is investing Sh556 billion in the construction of the 400kV Chalinze–Dodoma power transmission line, a cost that underscores the scale and strategic importance of the project to the country’s long-term energy stability.
Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi said this Thursday that the project — financed entirely through domestic resources — represents a major national undertaking aimed at reinforcing the country’s ability to move electricity efficiently from production centres to consumers.
The reliance on internal funding indicates the government’s growing capacity to finance heavy infrastructure without external borrowing, while also signalling a deliberate policy shift toward strengthening the national grid.
During his project review, Mr Ndejembi stressed that the financial magnitude of the investment demands strict adherence to timelines and quality standards.
His directive to Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to intensify oversight reflects broader challenges in ensuring that large, capital-intensive infrastructure projects remain aligned with national power-sector goals.
Ensuring timely completion is particularly crucial as delays could weaken the expected return on such a sizeable domestic expenditure.
To that end, he instructed TANESCO to prepare a revised work plan with clear milestones — a step often taken when governments need tighter project-management control on high-value infrastructure.
Mr Ndejembi also noted that President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania continues to push for reliable, accessible electricity across Tanzania, and the scale of this project fits into that national effort to expand and stabilize power delivery.
TANESCO Managing Director Lazaro Twange observed that Tanzania’s current generation capacity is adequate, shifting the sector’s primary challenge from production to transmission.
His comments highlight a structural transition in the power system: after years of investing in generation projects such as the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, the country must now invest heavily in the grid to ensure that supply reaches consumers and investors.
Mr Twange pointed to the completion of major substations in Chalinze and Dodoma, which form the backbone of this strategy.
Their role as central nodes in the transmission network — especially Dodoma’s integration point linking power from different regions and connecting Tanzania to Kenya — shows the government’s intention to build a more interconnected and resilient grid.
According to TANESCO, the new Chalinze–Dodoma line will be a key component of this future-ready system, ensuring stable, nationwide access to electricity and supporting the country’s long-term economic and industrial ambitions.
