USTDA Supports 60 MW Solar Power Plant in Tanzania
September 25, 2015
(USTDA)
ARLINGTON, Va. – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to
NextGen Solawazi Limited to support the development of a 60-megawatt (MW) solar
photovoltaic power plant in Shinyanga, a city in northwestern Tanzania. The
grant supports a feasibility study that will evaluate the technical and
commercial viability of the power plant, conduct environmental and social impact
assessments, and provide the necessary analysis for NextGen Solawazi to seek
implementation financing. This project is critically important to Tanzania’s
economic growth as, according to the World Bank, only 15 percent of its
population has access to electricity.
“USTDA is pleased to continue our work with NextGen Solawazi to develop
renewable energy in Tanzania,” said Director Leocadia I. Zak, who signed the
grant agreement along with NextGen Solawazi Limited Managing Director Mayank
Bhargava. “This project presents a valuable opportunity to draw upon U.S.
technical expertise to deploy new energy generation capacity in Shinyanga.”
“Tanzania’s National Strategy for Poverty Reduction and Growth has identified
limited power generation capacity and poor electricity access as the most
critical issue for development,” said Mr. Bhargava. “Energy generation from the
solar plant will not only electrify an estimated 210,000 households, but also
act as a catalyst to attract other commercial enterprises by providing reliable,
plentiful and cheaper electricity.”
The feasibility study will be undertaken by U.S. engineering and technical
consulting company Clean Energy Consulting & Education, LCC (Phoenix,
Ariz.). The project builds upon the Agency’s previous collaboration with
NextGen Solawazi, including the provision of an Owner’s Engineer who is
supporting efforts to build a 5-MW solar plant in Kigoma, Tanzania. Both of
these projects advance the goals of Power Africa, a U.S. government-led
initiative to add cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity across
the sub-continent.
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