The Kakono Hydropower Project is a planned 87.8 MW run-of-river renewable energy development on the Kagera River in northwestern Tanzania, near the border with Uganda. Led by Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), the project is a strategic component of Tanzania's efforts to expand clean energy generation, strengthen grid reliability, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The project includes hydropower generation infrastructure and an associated 220 kV transmission line to integrate the plant into the national grid.
The Kakono hydropower site is located on the Kagera River, Northwest Tanzania near the border with Uganda.
As a key component of Tanzania's energy strategy, Kakono offers a strategic opportunity for expanding renewable energy, enhancing grid stability, and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. This run-of-river site, downstream among the potential locations on the Kagera River, aligns with national development goals.
The Project will entail the construction of a concrete-faced rockfill dam (42 m high and 1,380 m long) and a gravity roller-compacted concrete dam (61 m high and 284 m long) producing a hydropower potential exploited through a powerhouse at the toe of the dam.
The limited live reservoir storage volume of 90 Mm3 will allow the option of daily regulation of the river flow when necessary. The power plant will comprise two Kaplan turbines, each with a capacity of 43.9MW and a maximum combined discharge of is 3,16m3/s.
The project will also include a 38.5 km long 220 kV transmission line to the existing substation at Kyaka and will be managed by Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO).
Preparations are well advanced and include a detailed Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), completed in 2022.
The project development objective is "to increase on-grid energy production from least-
cost renewables to address the electricity deficits in north-western Tanzania." The development
of Kakono HPP will displace the use of fossil fuels in the north-western corner of Tanzania in
the Lake Zone where costly diesel power generators are often brought online to either
supplement the grid supply or improve the quality of supply to avoid prolonged blackouts and
brownouts.