Mtwara Power Plant

In February 2013, the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Symbion Power to build a 600 MW power plant in Mtwara: In the same year of 2013, General Electric International (GE), a technology company, joined the project to facilitate and speed up the execution of the same. The project requires US $1 billion capital expenditure and will also cover the construction of a 650 kilometre power line from Mtwara to Songea to extend the existing national grid from Makambako in Njombe Region to Songea.

The power plant is planned to supply 30 MW to the Dangote Cement factory and 20 MW to the Mtwara Fertiliser Plant. Moreover, the Mtwara Airport needs 6 MW and the uranium mine in Namtumbo in Ruvuma Region requires 30 MW. Another expected buyer of energy from the Mtwara power plant is the urea plant of the UK listed Wentsworth Resources Company. In addition, TANESCO has received requests for power supply from Mozambique for its northern regions. Commercial operation of the plant is planned to start in 2017.

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