Hale Hydropower Restoration Reaches 40% Completion in Tanzania

Hale Hydropower Station Rehabilitation Progresses to 40% Completion

March 2, 2025

The rehabilitation of the Hale Hydropower Station in Tanga, Tanzania, is now over 40% complete, signaling a promising leap towards revitalizing the region’s energy infrastructure. This major effort is being carried out in collaboration with Sweden, with the ultimate goal of restoring the plant’s full generating capacity of 21 megawatts, providing a more sustainable and reliable energy source for the area.

Originally built in 1964, the Hale Hydropower Station had seen a dramatic decline in its output, dropping to just 4 megawatts in recent years. However, the ongoing rehabilitation promises to enhance power generation and stabilize electricity supply not only in Tanga but also in other northern regions of Tanzania.

Engineer Felchesmi Mramba, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, shared updates during a meeting with Sweden’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms. Charlotta Ozaki-Macias, on Thursday. The meeting also celebrated the completion of the 220kV Makambako-Njombe-Madaba-Songea power transmission project, which was funded by Sweden.

The rehabilitation project for the Hale station is estimated to cost around 50 billion Tanzanian shillings, with Sweden contributing 60% of the funding and the Tanzanian government covering the remaining 40%. The project is slated for completion by August 2026, offering hope for a major boost to the region’s energy capacity.

The Hale Hydropower Plant is strategically located along the Segera-Tanga highway, just 6 kilometers from the Tanga-Moshi junction. The plant leverages a natural 70-meter drop in the Pangani River to generate power. The facility includes a storage weir located 4 kilometers upstream from a diversion intake weir, which channels water through a series of vertical shafts, surge tunnels, and high-pressure shafts to reach the turbines located 76 meters below ground level. After generating power, the water returns to the river through a tailrace tunnel.

In addition to the Hale rehabilitation, the Swedish government has been a key partner in another critical infrastructure project: the Makambako-Madaba-Songea power transmission line, which has improved access to electricity for over 100,000 households across 120 villages. This project, launched in 2017 by the late President Dr. John Magufuli, has been transformative in expanding the nation’s energy access.

Engineer Mramba expressed gratitude towards Sweden for its consistent support across various sectors, particularly energy, water, and education. He highlighted that Sweden’s contributions through loans and grants have significantly advanced Tanzania’s energy and development goals.

Swedish Ambassador Ms. Charlotta Ozaki-Macias also emphasized the vital role that electricity plays in fostering social and economic development. She expressed confidence that the newly completed transmission line would make electricity more accessible to a larger portion of the population.