By Business Insider Reporter, Dodoma
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with delays in the implementation of the 400kV Chalinze–Dodoma power transmission line project, warning the contractor to accelerate works or face consequences.
Dr. Biteko made the remarks while inspecting the project at Manchali village in Chamwino District, where he discovered that progress stood at only 24 percent, compared to the 31 percent target set for this stage.
The project, launched in November 2024, was expected to be completed within 19 months after feasibility and preparatory works were fast-tracked.
“Seven months have passed since we launched this project, equivalent to 32 percent of the scheduled time. Yet implementation is lagging at 24 percent. This is unacceptable,” Dr. Biteko said.
Contractor’s excuses rejected
The project is being executed by China’s TBEA company. According to Dr. Biteko, excuses given by the contractor – including challenges with compensation claims and encountering rocky terrain – cannot justify the delays.
He directed the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) to use its internal revenues to settle compensation claims for affected residents, insisting that communities must receive their rightful dues.
“Citizens have the right to compensation. This cannot be an excuse for poor performance,” he stressed.
Strategic importance of the project
The 400kV line is designed to evacuate the full 2,115MW output from the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) into the national grid.
Currently, only about 240MW – equivalent to one turbine out of JNHPP’s nine – is transmitted via existing infrastructure.
Dr Biteko underscored the line’s importance not only for Dodoma, where power demand is rising daily, but also for western regions such as Singida, Tabora, Shinyanga, Mara and Kigoma.
“President Samia Suluhu Hassan has already directed that this project must not be mishandled. It is vital to the stability of our power supply and the country’s economic growth,” he said.
New work plan demanded
The minister ordered TBEA to submit a revised work plan to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy within four days, showing how it will recover the lost time.
He further instructed the contractor to mobilise more manpower to ensure that all 917 transmission towers are completed as scheduled.
For his part, Tanesco Managing Director, Lazaro Twange, confirmed that the contractor had already received an initial payment of TSh 107 billion, with the government allocating a total of TSh 513 billion for the project.
He assured that the project remains on track to be completed by June 2026 in line with the contract.
Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Rosemary Senyamule, pledged to oversee implementation closely, stressing that the line would transform Dodoma into a national hub for electricity distribution. Meanwhile, Dr. Biteko urged residents not to obstruct infrastructure projects, assuring them that compensation and rights will be honoured in accordance with directives from President Samia.
