Mizengo Pinda, Prime Minister, revealed that the Chinese government plans the investment to revive the controversy-plagued Kiwira coal mine in Mbeya Region.
Pinda said the Government and China have plans to operate the mine, with China to pump in the huge amount of funds over unspecified period. Some Chinese investors, linked with a joint venture in privatisation, aimed at generating 200MW of electricity using coal.
William Ngeleja, energy and minerals minister, informed that the funds would be invested in Kiwira coal power project, which the government has acquired from private investors.
William Ngeleja, said: “This is a short-term project. Give it two years and it will be generating 200MW.”
Currently, the deamand for the electricity in the east African nation is 787MW and is expected to be increased to approximately 900MW by the end of 2009.
