THE initial phase of construction for the Kikuletwa Centre of Excellence in Power Generation, located in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region, is 100 percent complete. The government has announced that student admissions for training in electricity generation engineering will begin this October.

The government hopes the centre will boost local expertise, increase employment and innovation, strengthen regional cooperation and contribute to the country's clean energy goals.

Dr Fredrick Salukele, Director of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and National Coordinator of the East African Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), visited the project site yesterday. He stated that the only remaining step is the arrival of key power generation equipment.

“This Kikuletwa Centre of Excellence in Power Generation is expected to be completed and begin generating electricity to be connected to the national grid by April 2026 after the installation of the key equipment,” he said.

The center, which will operate as a branch of the Arusha Technical College (ATC), is being developed under the EASTRIP project, funded by the World Bank at a cost of $16.25 million. Dr. Salukele noted that the centres three main objectives are to provide training, hands-on learning and research.

Prof. Idris Rai, Deputy Director of the East African Higher Education Council, expressed his satisfaction with the project’s progress. "We’re very pleased with the development of the project which involves building new infrastructure and upgrading the hydropower equipment originally constructed by the Germans in 1930, now being modernized with new technology,” Prof. Rai said.

The construction project is being implemented by China’s HNAC Technology Company Ltd.