Dar es Salaam. Residents of Rukwa Region are expected to begin receiving electricity from the national grid in May this year, following the completion of a 400 kV power transmission project from Iringa, Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, has announced.
She made the remarks in Laela town, Sumbawanga District, during the visit of Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, which commenced yesterday in Rukwa.
“Under the directives of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and following your instructions, we are committed to ensuring that by May 2026, electricity will be switched on through the TAZA project,” said Ms Makamba.
She said the project is progressing well, and if all goes as planned, the people of Rukwa Region will finally benefit from grid electricity in the fifth month of this year.
Currently, Rukwa receives electricity from Zambia under the Southern Africa Power Pool arrangement, a regional power-sharing arrangement that allows member countries to buy and sell electricity to meet local demand.
She added that, with sufficient national electricity supply, ongoing efforts are focused on constructing robust transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure wider access to power services for citizens.
On clean cooking energy, Ms Makamba said that various initiatives are underway to achieve 80 percent adoption of clean cooking solutions by 2034.
These include the distribution of subsidised improved cookstoves and gas cylinders to households.
The government’s commitment to expanding grid electricity and clean energy access underscores its broader agenda of socio-economic development and sustainable energy provision for all Tanzanians.
