By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania has completed a major electricity infrastructure upgrade that is expected to significantly boost power reliability for the rapidly growing suburbs of Mbagala and Gongo la Mboto.
Energy infrastructure received a major boost after the government announced the completion of the Kinyerezi I Extension power receiving and switching substation upgrade, a project aimed at strengthening electricity supply to some of the most densely populated areas of the city.
Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, confirmed on December 11, 2025 that the project has now been fully completed, including the installation of a new 175 MVA transformer – one of the highest-capacity units in the city’s distribution network. She said the system has already entered its testing phase, marking the final stage before full integration into the national grid.
“This is a crucial milestone in ensuring more reliable electricity for the residents of Dar es Salaam, particularly in Mbagala and Gongo la Mboto, where demand has been rising sharply due to population growth and expanding economic activity,” she said during an inspection tour of power generation plants in Kinyerezi and Ubungo.
Makamba expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for what she described as “a significant and timely investment” that will allow the city’s outskirts to receive stable and uninterrupted power.
“Tanzania is investing heavily to modernise its energy infrastructure, and this upgrade is part of those efforts. The transformers are installed, testing is underway, and we expect residents of Gongo la Mboto and Mbagala to soon benefit from dependable power,” she said.
Tanesco Managing Director Lazaro Twange, who accompanied the Deputy Minister, said the utility continues to upgrade infrastructure across the country to keep pace with rising electricity consumption driven by urbanisation and industrial growth.
He noted that the installation of the 175 MVA transformer in Kinyerezi represents a major enhancement to the transmission and distribution network. In addition, a 120 MVA transformer has been installed to directly serve Gongo la Mboto and Mbagala – areas that have experienced persistent overloads due to rapid demographic expansion.
“As Dar es Salaam grows, so does the pressure on the power network. These upgrades are essential to ensure that supply remains stable and that customers receive the standard of service they deserve,” Twange said. “The goal of the Kinyerezi I Extension project has always been to increase the capacity to deliver power efficiently to our customers.”
The Kinyerezi and Ubungo power complexes remain central to Tanzania’s electricity generation strategy, and the latest expansion is part of a wider government effort to reinforce the country’s grid ahead of rising future demand.
Once the testing phase is completed, Tanesco expects a marked reduction in outages and voltage fluctuations for households and businesses across the targeted areas – an improvement that could support economic activity, attract new investments and enhance overall quality of life. The upgrade forms part of a broader national agenda to build a resilient and modern energy system under Dira 2050, ensuring that cities such as Dar es Salaam can meet the needs of their fast-growing populations.
