Kiwira Mine-2 power station

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Kiwira Mine-2 power station is a power station in Songwe, Tanzania with multiple units of varying statuses, none of which are currently operating. It is also known as Kiwira Coal to Power Project.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name	Location	Coordinates (WGS 84)
Kiwira Mine-2 power station	Songwe, Tanzania	-9.485085, 33.670349 (exact)

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

• Phase II, Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4: -9.485085, 33.670349

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name	Status	Fuel(s)	Capacity (MW)	Technology	Start year	Emergency/Backup
Phase II	Announced	coal: unknown	400	unknown	–	False
Unit 1	Pre-permit	coal: unknown	50	subcritical	2027 (planned)	False
Unit 2	Pre-permit	coal: unknown	50	subcritical	2027 (planned)	False
Unit 3	Pre-permit	coal: unknown	50	subcritical	2027 (planned)	False
Unit 4	Pre-permit	coal: unknown	50	subcritical	2027 (planned)	False

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name	Owner	Parent
Phase II	Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd [100%]	State Mining Corp [100.0%]
Unit 1	Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd [100%]	State Mining Corp [100.0%]
Unit 2	Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd [100%]	State Mining Corp [100.0%]
Unit 3	Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd [100%]	State Mining Corp [100.0%]
Unit 4	Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd [100%]	State Mining Corp [100.0%]

Project-level coal details

• Coal source(s): domestic

Ownership Tree

This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

Background

In 2014, the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO), a state-owned corporation of the United Republic of Tanzania, released an expression of interest seeking a joint venture partner to fully finance and help operate a proposed coal and power project at Kiwira. STAMICO has a 25 year license for the Songwe-Kiwira coalfield.

The project goals included:

• Expansion of the existing underground mine from 150,000 tonnes of coal annually to 300,000 tonnes;
• Construction of a new opencast mine to produce 1.2 million tonnes of coal annually;
• Construction of a 200 MW power plant; and
• Construction of a 100km transmission line from the mine site to Mbeya City.

In June 2016, Tanzania's Deputy Energy Minister Medard Kalemani told Parliament that STAMICO would spend US$500 million on a mine and 200 MW coal plant, and that "preparatory work was at an advanced stage." The EIA was submitted. In addition, the plant could be expanded to 400 MW in the future, and Chinese companies were interested in developing the project. In 2015, a senior Chinese government official said Beijing was willing to provide a soft loan for the Kiwira project through its financial institutions.

In August 2021, the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) signed a deal with STAMICO agreeing to construct the power plant, with STAMICO supplying coal for the plant.

In February 2022, Tanzania's Minister of Minerals stated that the Kiwira Coal Mine was set for mass production following a rehabilitation project and would be able to supply coal for 200 MW of power.

According to a 2021-2022 annual report from Tanzania's Controller and Auditor General, the power station was scheduled to be completed by 2027. However, the report stated that as of December 2022, there had been no progress on milestones outlined in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between TANESCO and STAMICO. TANESCO reportedly had not included the Kiwira coal plant as a priority project in its Corporate Strategic Plan.

In August 2023, however, TANESCO published a list of priority power projects that were “to be implemented by June 2025”, and they included a “200 MW Kiwira Coal to Power Project” and a “400 MW Kiwira II Extension Coal to Power Project.” The second phase was to be “executed upon completion of Kiwira Phase 1.”

In STAMICO's 2022/2023 financial report, published in February 2024, the 200 MW coal plant was included as a "prioritized" project.

In July 2024, TANESCO’s list of priority projects still included the 200 MW proposal at Kiwira, and indicated that a feasibility study had been completed. TANESCO was seeking a partner for a public-private partnership and financing of US$437 million for the project.

According to a government report from February 2025, STAMICO was still in talks with TANESCO about the 200 MW coal plant proposal.

As of March 2025, Russian company Inter RAO Export Project Management reportedly planned to develop a technical project for the proposed Kiwira coal plant.

Financing

Phase I: As of July 2024, it was anticipated that a project finance loan would be raised for the project. TANESCO was also seeking a partner for a public-private partnership and financing of US$437 million for the project. In 2025, Tanzania Investment Centre listed the 200 MW Kiwira Coal to Power Project as an investment project seeking joint venture partnership, with TANESCO as implementation authority. The document stated that the project was still at the initial stage and required feasibility studies for both the power plant and mining. It listed the financing mode as “Loan” and the required partnership as “Financing (EPC + F),” while stating that the project cost would be established after completion of the feasibility study. In March 2025, Inter RAO Export – Project Management reportedly said that feasibility study work for the Kiwira thermal power plant project was planned in 2025. As of June 2026, no financial close, lender group, EPC+F contractor, equity partner, or current project financing amount had been identified.

Phase II: As of June 2026, no financial close, lender group, project finance loan, PPP partner, or Phase II-specific project cost had been identified for the announced expansion.

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.