TANZANIA'S TANESCO OUTLINES EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO POWER SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS
Tanzania's electricity utility TANESCO has identified a fault in a 132 kV underground transmission cable in Gongolamboto as the cause of power supply disruptions affecting Mbagala, Kigamboni, Mkuranga and Kibiti. Emergency transmission arrangements have been activated while engineers work to restore normal electricity services within the coming days.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, November 5, 2026 — The Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) has identified a fault in a 132-kilovolt (132 kV) underground electricity transmission cable in the Gongolamboto area of Dar es Salaam as the cause of recent power supply disruptions affecting Mbagala, Kigamboni, Mkuranga and Kibiti.
The national electricity utility said it had implemented emergency measures to redirect electricity through an alternative transmission route to minimise disruptions to households, businesses and other consumers while technical teams work to repair the affected infrastructure.
Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, November 5, 2026, TANESCO's Director of Communications and Customer Services, Ms. Irene Gowelle, said the fault was first detected on November 3, 2026, along the 132 kV underground transmission line connecting the Gongolamboto Substation to the Mbagala and Dege substations in Kigamboni.
She explained that the transmission line forms a critical component of the electricity infrastructure serving southern Dar es Salaam and parts of the neighbouring Pwani Region.
Consequently, the fault has affected the system's capacity to deliver sufficient electricity to meet demand in the affected areas.
TANESCO Activates Emergency Measures to Maintain Electricity Supply
Ms. Gowelle said TANESCO immediately initiated technical interventions following the detection of the fault, including transferring part of the electricity load to an alternative transmission route to maintain supply while repairs are undertaken.
However, she explained that the alternative route has a lower transmission capacity and cannot simultaneously accommodate the full electricity demand of all affected areas.
As a result, some customers may continue experiencing intermittent power supply disruptions, particularly during periods of high electricity consumption when demand exceeds the available transmission capacity.
She clarified that the situation does not represent a complete shutdown of the electricity distribution system in the affected areas. Rather, the disruptions are attributable to the limited capacity of the temporary transmission arrangement while the primary line remains under repair.
"We sincerely apologise to our customers who have been affected by this situation. We recognise the importance of electricity in people's daily lives and business operations. Our technical teams are continuing their efforts to rectify the fault and restore normal electricity supply," Ms. Gowelle said.
TANESCO Provides Technical Explanation of the 132 kV Gongolamboto Transmission Fault
For his part, TANESCO's Deputy Managing Director responsible for Transmission, Eng. Zakaria Mgalama, explained that the 132 kV transmission line linking Gongolamboto to Mbagala and Dege is among the key infrastructure facilities supporting electricity supply to southern Dar es Salaam and parts of Pwani Region.
He noted that TANESCO's electricity transmission network incorporates alternative supply routes designed to maintain service continuity when faults occur along particular sections of the system.
According to Eng. Mgalama, these arrangements have enabled electricity supply to continue in some affected areas despite the disruption to the main transmission line.
Nevertheless, he explained that the alternative transmission route has insufficient capacity to meet the combined electricity demand of all areas normally served by the affected infrastructure.
This limitation has resulted in supply constraints, particularly during periods of increased electricity consumption.
Eng. Mgalama said TANESCO's engineers and technical specialists are working to identify and repair the affected section of the underground cable to restore the transmission system to its normal operating capacity.
"Our engineers and technical teams are continuing repair works to rectify the fault. We expect the situation to be resolved within the next few days. We sincerely thank the public for their patience and cooperation as we work to restore normal electricity services," he said.
Repair Works Continue as TANESCO Targets Restoration of Normal Services
TANESCO said its transmission engineering teams are continuing repair operations, while temporary supply arrangements remain in place to minimise the impact on consumers.
The utility emphasised that its immediate priority is to repair the affected infrastructure and restore normal transmission capacity to the areas served by the Gongolamboto–Mbagala–Dege transmission network.
According to Eng. Mgalama, the company expects to complete the necessary repairs within the coming days.
However, full restoration of normal electricity supply will depend on the successful completion of the repair works and technical verification that the affected infrastructure is ready to resume normal operations.
Government Advances Major Electricity Transmission Infrastructure Projects
In a related development, Eng. Mgalama said the Sixth Phase Government, under the leadership of President H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, continues to facilitate major electricity infrastructure investments aimed at expanding national transmission capacity and improving the reliability of power supply.
He identified several strategic projects currently being implemented, including the construction of a 400 kV electricity transmission line from Chalinze to Mkuranga and a 220 kV transmission line from Pugu to Dundani.
According to the Deputy Managing Director, these projects are designed to strengthen electricity transmission infrastructure, increase network capacity and improve the system's ability to accommodate growing electricity demand.
He explained that the investments will support expanding residential settlements, commercial activities and industrial development in the areas served by the projects.
For southern Dar es Salaam and Pwani Region, the planned infrastructure improvements are expected to enhance electricity supply reliability and strengthen the network's resilience against disruptions arising from faults in individual transmission components.
The projects are also expected to provide greater operational flexibility by expanding transmission capacity and improving the overall performance of the electricity network.
TANESCO Appeals for Public Understanding as Restoration Efforts Continue
TANESCO reiterated its apology to residents and customers in Mbagala, Kigamboni, Mkuranga and Kibiti for the inconvenience caused by the ongoing electricity supply challenges.
The utility assured customers that its technical teams remain engaged in efforts to resolve the fault and that alternative transmission arrangements will continue to be utilised wherever technically feasible while repairs are underway.
TANESCO also expressed appreciation to the public for their patience and cooperation, reaffirming its commitment to restoring normal electricity supply and continuing investments in infrastructure improvements to enhance service reliability, efficiency and quality.
The company emphasised that strengthening electricity transmission infrastructure remains an important priority in meeting Tanzania's growing energy requirements and supporting economic and industrial development.