Starting with a campus in Zanzibar, this initiative has evolved into an expansive undertaking

Time of India

a day ago

MUMBAI: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has partnered with GRID-INDIA, a central public sector enterprise under the Union Ministry of Power, to establish programmes in East Africa, specifically Tanzania.
The initiative aims to enhance energy systems through certification programmes, collaborative research and consultancy projects that combine Indian expertise with local requirements.
The agreement, signed on May 22, 2025, at
IIT
Madras campus, represents a significant international energy partnership. Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras, and Shri Surajit Banerjee, Executive Director (HR), GRID-INDIA, formalised the arrangement.
"IIT Madras Zanzibar was conceived to take our strengths global—but with local roots," said Prof. Santhanam. "This partnership with GRID-INDIA allows us to translate decades of experience in India's power systems into real-world capacity building for East Africa."
GRID-INDIA, a Miniratna organisation managing India's national power grid, contributes its operational knowledge and international collaboration objectives.
"This is more than an MoU. It's a shared mission," said Mr. Paresh R. Ranpara, Director (HR), GRID-INDIA. "Through IIT Madras Zanzibar, we hope to build the technical backbone for power professionals across Tanzania and beyond."
The Energy Consortium, IIT Madras' sustainable energy research centre, combines academic and industrial expertise to address contemporary energy challenges. Following its international expansion to Zanzibar in 2024, the Consortium is extending its reach across Africa.
The initiative aims to enhance Tanzanian power sector professionals' technical abilities through various programmes. It commences with basic certifications in power systems, renewable energy and energy management, followed by advanced courses featuring practical training in power system protection and applied case studies.
The collaboration includes research in emerging technologies such as microgrids, data analytics and artificial intelligence, whilst providing technical consultation for Tanzania's power infrastructure challenges.
"We will deliver state-of-the-art lectures and training for Tanzanian professionals to bridge the theory-practice gap in modern power engineering," said Prof. Shanti Swarup, Principal Investigator and professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras.
Dr. Nikhil Tambe, CEO of The Energy Consortium, noted: "From a chapter in Zanzibar to a region-wide movement—this is how energy knowledge travels. This is how change begins." This partnership between IIT Madras and GRID-INDIA offers comprehensive support for energy development in Africa, where both energy accessibility and efficiency are crucial priorities.