The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) and Symbion Power have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build a 400 MW power plant in the Mtwara region of Tanzania
Robert Mboma, chairman of Tanesco's board of directors, said that the power would be connected to the national grid through a transmission line that would be built from Makambako in Njombe Region to Songea. Mboma explained that the agreement had come to fruition due to increased demand for power in Mtwara following the area's increasing development.
Mboma added, “The cement factory which is due to be constructed in Mtwara will demand 30 MW while the fertiliser factory will demand 20 MW and Mtwara Airport is expected to demand 6 MW. The uranium mine in Namtumbo (Ruvuma Region) will demand 30 MW.”
The Tanesco chairman added that the company had received requests for power supply from Mozambique for the benefit of its northern regions. Malawi is also expected to make a similar request in due time.
Mboma noted, “We are starting with 400 MW but we will continue to monitor the demand volume and we may have to shoot to 500 MW in the near future. We expect the power to go a long way in serving the whole country through the national grid.”
Symbion CEO Paul Hinks said that the development would be implemented in phases and would take three years from financial closure to completion.
Hinks commented, "The first phase will involve increasing the existing capacity in Mtwara which is set to start soon to meet the growing demand in the southern regions including Lindi and Mtwara. Engineering study work will commence in March."
Hinks added that it would take around 12 months to put the necessary financing in place before the project commenced.
