ZANZIBAR has announced plans to begin generating electricity using wind power by the end of this year.

Joseph Kilangi, the Water, Energy and Minerals principal secretary, made this affirmation late on Thursday, following the signing of an agreement between Seel Oilfield Service based in Dubai, Sany Renewable Energy of China and the Zanzibar Electricity Corporation (ZECO).

The 200-megawatt wind power project with an estimated cost of $180m will involve the installation of modern equipment to ensure efficient electricity production, he said.

The project will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase expected to generate 120 megawatts—100 megawatts for Unguja and 20 megawatts for Pemba, slated for completion within a year, he said.

The government set a one-year timeline for completion to ensure the project progresses swiftly, he said, stressing the wish to closely work with the partners to ensure that the project meets its scheduled deadline.

The government’s goal is to reduce reliance on a single source of energy and to ensure sustainable, sufficient power supply for industries and households, in line with the rapid development and growing investments, he further stated.

He reassured the public that the government had thoroughly researched Zanzibar’s wind capacity, and affirmed that the region has sufficient wind resources to support the project.

“We have not rushed into this decision without conducting proper research. We have verified that Zanzibar has the wind resources necessary to generate substantial amounts of electricity,” he asserted.

The wind power project is expected to address long-standing unreliable electricity supply characterized by frequent outages and insufficient power availability across the islands, he stated.

Zanzibar is becoming increasingly attractive to investors, and reliable electricity is essential to support the pace of growth and meet the growing energy demands of households and businesses, he said.

For Pemba, the wind energy project will include a dedicated station to support the growing investment take ups there, he said, while Haji Muhamed Haji, the ZECO general manager underscored the importance of the wind power project in addressing the energy challenges on the islands.

Saeed Al Jabry, the Seel Oilfield Services Ltd CEO, confirmed that work on the project starts immediately after the agreement is signed, stressing the company's readiness to proceed and meet the project’s completion deadline.