Tanzania's government plans to spend approximately 204bn/- to finish the second phase of a 100-megawatt solar power generation project in Shinyanga Region, with technical staff already mobilising at the site ahead of work beginning. The Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, made the announcement during a visit by the Prime Minister to Kishapu District, where officials met with residents to hear and address their concerns.
The project represents an important move to strengthen reliable electricity supply, increase domestic power generation and drive economic activity among residents of Kishapu and surrounding areas, according to Ms Makamba. The first phase has already delivered benefits to local communities through road rehabilitation carried out under the Corporate Social Responsibility programme, job creation for residents, and the building of classrooms and dispensaries.
Since the second phase will generate twice the power capacity of the first phase, residents are expected to gain further advantages through improved social services and additional economic opportunities. Ms Makamba noted that the expansion of clean energy capacity would support broader efforts to improve living standards across the region.
In related remarks, Ms Makamba encouraged women and the public to switch to clean cooking energy sources, including liquefied petroleum gas, alternative charcoal and electricity, to protect the environment and reduce time spent collecting fuel. She stated that she and other special-seat councillors in Shinyanga Region back President Samia Suluhu Hassan's drive to increase adoption of clean cooking energy throughout the country.
For savers, borrowers, business owners and investors in Tanzania, the expansion of solar capacity offers potential benefits through lower electricity costs and improved reliability, while clean energy adoption could reduce household spending on fuel.