TANESCO adopts drone technology to revolutionise national grid inspections

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) has officially launched the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, to modernise the inspection of its extensive power transmission and distribution networks.

This strategic move, unveiled on March 17, 2026, forms a core part of the utility's broader digital transformation aimed at enhancing customer service and ensuring a more reliable supply of electricity across the country.

During the launch ceremony held in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam, TANESCO managing director, Mr Lazaro Twange, said that the integration of drone technology is essential for managing the nation's vast energy infrastructure.

He noted that the company oversees approximately 8,500 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines and a staggering 200,000 kilometres of distribution lines.

These assets often traverse difficult terrain, including dense bushland and remote rural areas, making manual physical inspections both time-consuming and logistically challenging.

Mr Twange explained that while the company already utilises various fault-detection systems, pinpointing the exact location of a technical hitch has historically remained a bottleneck.

By deploying drones equipped with specialised monitoring systems, TANESCO engineers can now conduct rapid, high-definition aerial surveys to identify potential vulnerabilities before they escalate into full-scale power outages.

This proactive approach is expected to significantly reduce the time required for repairs and minimise service disruptions for domestic and industrial consumers.

Mr Twange further said that this technological leap is fundamentally about improving the customer experience.

He reiterated that the primary goal of the utility is to ensure that power is restored swiftly whenever a fault occurs and, more importantly, to prevent such incidents through better maintenance.

The introduction of these "mechanical bees" marks the beginning of a new era for the state-owned utility, as it leans heavily into digital solutions to meet the growing energy demands of a modern Tanzania.