Tanzania has commissioned the country’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic project in Kishapu District, located in the northwestern Shinyanga Region, marking a milestone in the East African nation’s energy transformation agenda.
The project will inject 50 megawatts of power into the national grid by March 1, 2026.
The facility was executed by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) through a partnership between the Tanzania and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) at a cost of TSh 118 billion ($45,953,144.15).
It is expected to strengthen power supply reliability, particularly across the Lake Zone regions, marking a significant step in Tanzania’s renewable energy expansion strategy.
Speaking during a site inspection on Saturday, February 21, 2026, TANESCO’s Chief Executive Officer, Lazaro Twange, said the completion of the project demonstrates the government’s consistent commitment to expanding access to reliable electricity services for Tanzanians.
“This is a new chapter being written in our country’s history. Since independence, we have never had a solar project of this scale. The government, through the Ministry of Energy and TANESCO, has made history, and today you have witnessed electricity being generated,” Mr. Twange told the gathering.
He described the project as a landmark development and the first solar facility of such magnitude since independence.
Peter Masindi, the Kishapu District Commissioner, said the solar plant would serve as a catalyst for local economic growth, particularly benefiting young people engaged in mining and agriculture.
The Acting Plant Manager, Mariana Mrosso, added that the facility will enhance grid stability and improve electricity quality for consumers, especially in Tanzania’s Lake Zone.
Discover more from Energy News Africa
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.