The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway signed an agreement in August 2008 where Norway agreed to provide funds for the Tanga – Pemba Sub Sea Cable Project. Norway’s contribution is 300 million NOK and Zanzibar will allocate the outstanding funds to cover the total project costs, estimated to amount to NOK 400 million – approximately Tz 94 billion Shilling. The total costs will cover the production and lying of the cable, as well as the construction of overhead lines and substations.
Produced in Halden, Norway
The Cable is presently under production by Nexans’ factory in Halden, Norway. The cable is a 36 kV XLPE cable. It also includes a fibre optic cable, which is produced by Nexans in Rognan, Norway, and braided into a combined cable in Halden. The cable will be produced in one single piece of 75 km of length with an approximate weight of 4500 tonnes.
Once the production has been finalised in Halden, the cable will be transported on the ship CS Nexans Skagerrak, which is a vessel designed to lay complex underwater cables, down to the Pemba Channel. The laying process is planned to be finalised by 16 November 2009.
Electricity for 20-25 years
The project is presently progressing well, and if all works out according to plan the cable will be in operation and connecting Pemba to the main grid on the mainland for the first time before Christmas 2009, well ahead of original schedule.
Three diesel generators are currently providing the population of Pemba with electricity, and the cable will replace these. The aim of the project is to contribute to the economic and social development of Pemba by increasing the access to affordable and sustainable energy. This is in accordance with the Zanzibar Vision 2020 as well as the Zanzibar Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty. The objective is to provide Pemba with electricity in the 20-25 years to come.
For more information please contact Ørnulf Strøm at the Royal Norwegian Embassy: +255 782 777 010 / oest@mfa.no