Power Grid

Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) announced the completion of the first phase of the Kishapu solar project in Shinyanga, northwestern Tanzania. The 50 MW from this phase will be fully connected to the national grid by March 1, 2026, marking a major milestone in the country’s renewable energy development.

The project, described as the largest solar park of its kind in Tanzania, cost 118.6 billion Tanzanian shillings (approximately €39 million) for the first phase, supported by the French Development Agency (AFD). TANESCO’s Managing Director, Lazaro Twange, emphasized that this represents a historic achievement in Tanzania’s energy sector since Independence.

Delays in the project were attributed to challenges in integrating solar generation into the national grid. The broader €130 million financing deal with AFD also includes upgrades to transmission and distribution networks and measures to strengthen power system management, ensuring the grid can handle increased solar capacity.

TANESCO is finalizing contractor selection for the second phase, which will add an additional 100 MW at an estimated 200.4 billion Tanzanian shillings. Expanding solar capacity is part of Tanzania’s strategy to diversify its energy mix beyond natural gas, which currently accounts for about 63% of installed power capacity, and to enhance national energy security.