Unguja. Zanzibar is on the verge of completing a major electricity infrastructure upgrade aimed at stabilising voltage and improving supply reliability across Unguja and Pemba.
The project, implemented by Novavis International Ltd, a US-based firm with Tanzanian ownership, involves the installation of automatic voltage regulators, capacitor banks, and a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) system at Mtoni Substation in Unguja.
According to the Ministry of Water, Energy and Minerals, the project, launched in July 2023, is being carried out under an 18-month and 24-month contract framework.
The installation of 33-kilovolt and 11-kilovolt capacitor banks and 33-Kilovolt automatic voltage regulators is now fully completed.
The second phase, focused on the STATCOM system, is 99.9 percent complete and expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.
Equipment delivered and installed
So far, all key equipment—including 55 concrete poles, 36 voltage regulators, 37 capacitor banks, and the STATCOM unit—has been delivered and installed.
On Unguja, 24 voltage regulators and 26 capacitor banks have been commissioned in areas such as Tungu, Kitogani, Ubago, Chiuni, Mahonda, Donge, Upenja, Fukuchani, Kiembe Samaki, Fumba, and Nungwi.
On Pemba, nine voltage regulators and five capacitor banks have been installed in locations including Dodo Pujini, Wesha, Kiungoni, Konde, Wete, and Bahanasa.
The STATCOM system, being set up at Mtoni Substation, is designed to balance the 33-kilovolt grid supplied from mainland Tanzania, ensuring a more reliable flow of electricity to consumers.
Expected impact
The project is expected to significantly improve voltage quality, reduce technical losses, and enhance the reliability of electricity supply for households and industries across Zanzibar.
Officials say the improvements will also help ZECO (Zanzibar Electricity Corporation) manage rising demand and cut reliance on emergency measures when power fluctuations occur.
By 2027, the island’s energy sector is projected to benefit from additional EU-backed anti-corruption monitoring and further grid investment, ensuring funds are safeguarded and projects deliver value to citizens.
