Tanzania: TANESCO To Replace Fragile Electric Poles With Concrete and Steel Poles

Tanzanian Deputy Minister for Energy, Hon. Salome Makamba, has said that the government, through TANESCO, will replace fragile electric poles with stronger alternatives, including concrete and steel poles.

The government will also strengthen pole foundations in areas with soft soil to address the challenge of falling electric poles.

Salome made the remarks in Parliament in Dodoma while responding to a question from Hon. Sara Msafiri Ally, Member of Parliament for Mvomero, who wanted to know when the government would resolve the issue of collapsing electric poles in Mgeta.

In response, Salome said the government recognizes the challenge of collapsing power poles in some areas of Mgeta due to several factors, including heavy rainfall, weak soil conditions, and soil erosion affecting some poles.

She added that the government, through TANESCO, continues to conduct regular inspections of electricity infrastructure to identify and address challenges as soon as they arise.

Salome further explained that the government, through the Ministry of Energy, has allocated a special budget to replace wooden poles in wet areas and in locations with intensive human activity.

She also called on citizens to avoid improper land-use practices, including careless burning of farms, which has been damaging electricity infrastructure by burning electric poles.