| Somanga Thermal Power Station | |
| Location Map Caption: | Location of Somanga Thermal Power Station |
| Coordinates: | -8.4167°N 39.2833°W |
| Country: | Tanzania |
| Location: | Somanga, Lindi Region, Tanzania |
| Status: | O |
| Construction Began: | 2007 |
| Commissioned: | 14 August 2010 |
| Owner: | Tanesco |
| Operator: | Tanesco |
| Th Fuel Primary: | Natural gas |
| Ps Electrical Capacity: | 7.5MW |
Somanga Thermal Power Station is a 7.5MW, natural gas powered, electricity generating power station in Tanzania.[1]
The power-plant is located in the village of Somanga-Fungu, Kilwa District, in Lindi Region, in southeastern Tanzania, approximately 217km (135miles), by road, north of Lindi, the location of the regional headquarters.[2] This is about 241km (150miles), by road, south of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city.[3]
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.[1] 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.[1]
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.[1]
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.[4] A financial adviser has been selected to advise government on the project.[5]