Slow progress on Chalinze–Dodoma power project irks Deputy PM, Biteko

Dodoma. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has criticised the slow pace of the 400kV power transmission line project from Chalinze to Zuzu in Dodoma, urging the contractor to speed up work on the strategic project.

The project, launched in November 2024, was expected to reach 31 percent completion by August 2025. However, progress stands at just 24 percent, seven percentage points behind schedule.

During an inspection at Manchali Village in Chamwino District on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Dr Biteko told the Chinese contractor, TBEA, to recover lost time and ensure the project is delivered on schedule.

“When we launched this project seven months ago, we expected steady progress. By now, it should be at 31 percent, yet it has only reached 24 percent. This is unacceptable,” he said.

The government had shortened the project timeline from 22 to 19 months since preliminary work, such as feasibility studies and land acquisition, was completed before launch.

Dr Biteko dismissed the contractor’s explanations for delays, including land disputes and rocky terrain, stressing that residents had a right to prompt compensation.

He directed the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) to use internal revenues to pay compensation and reminded TBEA that the project was too strategic to be handled casually.

Currently, power from the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) is transmitted to Dodoma through Chalinze, but only about 240MW, one turbine out of nine, reaches the capital.

“This new line is critical because Dodoma’s electricity demand is rising daily. It also serves as the hub for distributing power to western regions. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed that this project must not be delayed,” he said.

Dr Biteko gave the contractor four days to submit a revised work plan and ordered an increase in the workforce to accelerate construction.

Of the 917 planned transmission towers, only about 100 foundations have been dug. He also instructed the supervising engineer to ensure strict oversight and report shortcomings promptly.

Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Ms Rosemary Senyamule, pledged to enforce the directives, saying the project would make Dodoma the country’s electricity distribution hub.

Tanesco Managing Director, Mr Lazaro Twange, said that the 400kV line is designed to carry the full 2,115MW from JNHPP and feed it into the national grid.

He confirmed the contractor had received Sh107 billion as a first instalment, while the supervising engineer had been paid 15 percent of his fees.

Mr Twange assured that the project would be completed by June 2026 in line with the contract, noting that the government had already provided Sh513 billion to finance the 345-kilometre line from Chalinze in Coast Region to Zuzu in Dodoma.