Tanzania plans 2,000MW coal-fired power plant

Songea. Tanzania’s plans to expand electricity generation are set to receive a major boost from a coal-based power project in Ruvuma Region, which is expected to generate 2,000 megawatts (MW) and support the development of aluminium and steel industries.

The minister for Energy, Mr Juma Zuberi Homera, announced the plans on October 23, 2026, during a visit to an industrial park being developed by Hongwang Tanzania Holdings in Songea District.

Dr Homera said the project was among the major electricity generation initiatives in Africa and was expected to begin trial power production in June 2027.

The proposed 2,000MW capacity would contribute to Tanzania’s ambition to generate 8,000MW of electricity by 2030, complementing existing and planned generation projects using other energy sources.

The government expects the expansion of electricity generation to improve the reliability of supply and provide the power required to support industrialisation and broader economic development.

However, the project’s contribution will depend on the timely completion of the necessary infrastructure and the delivery of electricity in line with the implementation schedule.

During the visit, Dr Homera directed Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) to complete all outstanding contractual arrangements by November 2026 to enable the investor to access 200MW of electricity required to accelerate the project’s development.

The directive highlights the importance of coordinating electricity supply with industrial investment, particularly where major projects require substantial power before their own generation facilities become operational.

The minister said the Energy Ministry would continue working with investors to ensure that essential requirements for energy projects were addressed on time.

He also commended Ruvuma Regional Commissioner Ahmed Abbas Ahmed for coordinating development activities in the region.

The proposed project combines power generation with plans to establish aluminium and steel industries, potentially linking energy production to industrial processing and manufacturing.

Such industries require substantial and reliable electricity supplies, making the availability of power a critical consideration in their development and operating costs.

If implemented as planned, the project could increase domestic electricity generation capacity while providing a foundation for the proposed industrial activities.

Nevertheless, the June 2027 trial-operation target remains a project milestone rather than confirmation that the plant will immediately deliver its full 2,000MW capacity to the national grid.

Further details on the project’s total investment, coal supply arrangements, generation technology, environmental safeguards and implementation schedule were not provided in the minister’s remarks.

These factors will be important in determining the project’s financial viability, environmental implications and contribution to Tanzania’s long-term electricity supply.

For now, the immediate priority is to complete the contractual arrangements needed to provide the investor with the initial 200MW of electricity, while advancing the infrastructure required for the planned generation capacity.