Samia issues SGR deadline, pledges end of power woes

President Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday ordered the start of modern train services before next July to meet public expectations over the mega project.

The standard gauge railway (SGR) is implemented in phases and lots one and two, running between Dar es Salaam and Makutupora through Morogoro, have been implemented by 90 percent so far.

“I have been hearing change of dates for the start of the train services and people are actually tired of the excuses. They want to see the train operating,” said President Hassan during her New Year speech last night.

“I now direct that the train services between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma should start before July 2024,” she ordered.

Tanzania is building the 2,561-kilometer line that will link the port of Dar es Salaam to Mwanza on Lake Victoria, with eventual spurs to Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Rwanda, and Uganda.

In her speech, President Hassan outlined the achievement and the outlook for different sectors, promising better things in 2024.

On the energy sector, she said Tanzania will add about 500 megawatts to the national grid by March 2024 and address the current shortages of electricity which cause power rationing.

The current electricity shortage is estimated at 300 megawatts, she said, adding that the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant is expected to generate 470 megawatts in March while 27 other megawatts are expected from the Rusumo power project.

“It’s my hope that these steps will give solution to the electricity rationing. The government will continue investing in other sources of electricity such as wind, solar and gas to generate reliable electricity,” she said.

Climate change President Hassan also revealed that Tanzania received pledges worth $9.9 billion (about Sh25 trillion) to support its effort in addressing climate change.

The pledges under the leadership of the Global Centre on Adaptation and the African Development Bank will be used to finance environment-related projects in the next five years, she said. She said $53 million were also allocated for Tanzania during eighth Global Environment Fund (GEF) meeting.

More achievement During the speech, President Hassan said in 2023, her administration managed to improve access to water to 88 percent in urban and 77 percent in rural areas of the country.

She said the government has also secured $600 million for implementation of Lake Victoria-Dodoma water project. Furthermore, she said strengthened foreign and international relations has significantly benefited the country including the access of $500 million for implementation of food security projects.

“We have secured $297.64 million for execution of rural communication projects. Following conducive economic conduct, the country has this month received from the World Bank $500 million budget support fund,” she said, during a live televised event.

Regarding the education sector, she said apart from improving the disbursement of loans to higher learning institution students, Sh48 billion has been allocated for the provision of loans to 8,000 students taking courses of strategic priority.

She said her government has installed five Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and 30 Computed Tomography (CT) out of required 32 in healthcare service centres in 24 regions out of 26.