Tanzania has announced plans to produce 48 Megawatts of electricity from solar in Zanzibar by 2024.
The move is in response to growing demand of electricity supply in the East African nation.
“We are aiming to solve the power shortage in the country and have reliable supply for our investors and citizens,” Mr. Joseph Juma Kilang, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Energy and Minerals, Joseph Juma Kilangi said.
Mr. Kilangi said this during the signing of the agreement between his ministry and the German company- International Energy Consultants GmbH (GOPA) for the power production, to be implemented under the ongoing Zanzibar Energy Sector Transformation and Access (ZESTA) project.
He said that the 48 megawatts of electricity that will be produced from solar power will help improve power reliability, required to promote the economy of Zanzibar.
PS Kilangi mentioned the areas that will be served by solar electricity include Makunduchi, Ubago and Matemwe.
He said the doors are still open for other investors to come and set up their investments in the energy sector because more electricity will be required.
He said that the electricity that is expected to be produced by the GOPA is a catalyst for increasing the economic activities in the country.
The PS asked the investors to speed up the project, as the electricity service is important for the country and it also brings benefits in the development of the country.
The Zanzibar Electricity Company ZECO General Manager, Engineer Mshenga Haidar Mshenga, said that through the project, they will do additional work to produce solar electricity during that period.
In addition, he promised “ZECO will ensure that the project is realised as per agreement.
The Executive Director of GOPA Mr Paul Freunscht thanked the Zanzibar government for the cooperation and accepting the project aimed at increasing productivity.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com