Ambassador Lenhardt Participates in Ceremony to Install 100 Megawatt Submarine Power to Zanzibar.

October 10, 2012

His Excellency President Ali Mohamed Shein, Ambassador Alfonso E. Lenhardt, and other distinguished guests were on hand to witness this important milestone.

On October 10th Viscas Corporation (Japan) began the process of laying the MCC funded submarine power cable between Zanzibar in the Mainland.

On October 10, U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Alfonso E. Lenhardt and Zanzibar President Mohammed Shein witnessed the installation of a 100 megawatt (MW), $28.1 million USD submarine power cable sponsored by the American People through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The new cable will be laid between the Mainland and Zanzibar, and will more than double the maximum capacity of the current cable being replaced. The submarine power cable is part of an overall $698.1 million USD MCC Compact signed in 2008 between the Governments of the United States and the United Republic of Tanzania and goes through September 2013.

The contract to manufacture, deliver, and install this new state-of-the-art submarine power cable was signed in April 2010 at the State House in Stone Town by representatives of the Millennium Challenge Account – Tanzania and the winning firm, Viscas Corporation of Japan. Despite challenges that included the tragic tsunami induced flooding and subsequent nuclear power problems in Japan, Viscas has succeeded in completing the 39 Kms of new submarine cable and delivering it on time.

Participating in the cable laying ceremony with His Excellency President Ali Mohamed Shein, Ambassador Lenhardt commented, “Every Zanzibari realizes the importance of an adequate and reliable power supply for this island. It is not only an essential foundation for economic growth and prosperity; it is fundamental to the very health and well-being of every resident of Zanzibar. Power is needed to light schools as well as businesses. Power is needed to keep the equipment and operating theatres in hospitals running. And power is needed to run the pumps that supply drinking water necessary for life itself. That is why I am especially proud to be here today, representing both President Obama and the American people whom we both serve. The American people are proud to partners in this Zanzibar Interconnector Project which will bring additional and more reliable power to Unguja.”

Other key components of the Zanzibar Interconnector Project are also nearing successful completion simultaneously. The firm called Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL) is currently erecting 195 new monopoles that will hold a total of 37 Kms worth of overhead power lines which will bring the power from Ras Fumba where the submarine cable makes landfall to Mtoni near Stone Town. At Mtoni a new substation is being constructed by a joint venture between Alstom Grid and Symbion Power that will receive the power and distribute it throughout Unguja.

In addition to the Zanzibar Interconnector Project, MCC is also financing the upgrade of 35 Kms. of rural roads on Pemba. The Interconnector Project is one of several important energy sector activities underway as part of the Compact. MCC also provides technical assistance to TANESCO and ZECO to reduce losses and improve their efficiency. On the mainland, MCC is also supporting the upgrading of 25 additional power substations, as well as the rehabilitation and expansion of power transmission and distribution lines in seven mainland regions: Mwanza, Tanga, Dodoma, Morogoro, Mbeya, Iringa, and Kigoma. The Compact also includes other major components that will provide significant infrastructure investment in the transport and water sectors.