Somanga Thermal Power Station

Somanga Thermal Power Station is a 7.5 MW, natural gas powered, electricity generating power station in Tanzania.

Location
The power-plant is located in the village of Somanga-Fungu, Kilwa District, in Lindi Region, in southeastern Tanzania, approximately 217 km, by road, north of Lindi, the location of the regional headquarters. This is about 241 km, by road, south of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city.

Overview
Somanga Power Station is owned and operated by Tanesco, the Tanzanian electricity distribution monopoly. It was constructed between 2007 and 2010, with a loan from the World Bank. The power generated is evacuated by two separate 33kV power lines to Kilwa and Ikwiriri. Power is then distributed to the neighboring communities of Kilwa Kivinje, Nangurukuru, Somanga, Muhoro, Ikwiriri, Kibiti and Bungu. As at September 2016, this power station was not connected to the Tanzanian national electricity grid.

Operations
The power plant operates on natural gas sources from Songo Songo Island via pipeline. The plant has three Jenbacher engines, each with a generating capacity of 2.5MW, bringing installed capacity to 7.5MW.

Future plans
The government of Tanzania has plans to build a grid-connected gas-powered electricity power station at Somanga-Fungu village near or at the location of the present installation. The new power plant will have installed capacity of 200MW to 400MW. A financial adviser has been selected to advise government on the project.