In short: Solmast supplies solar street lights, galvanized poles and LED heads from Kunming, China, to Tanzanian contractors and suppliers bidding on NeST. Each offer includes the lighting calculation and IES file, an energy balance sized for the April rains on the coast, tender documents and samples. Shipments go with a TBS certificate of conformity, which avoids the 15 % CIF penalty on uncertified regulated goods.
Street lighting is now a routine line in Tanzanian road contracts, from single town roads tendered by TARURA regional offices to solar street lights in the World Bank–funded TACTIC cities programme. Road contractors who win the civil works then buy the lights.
What Tanzanian tenders ask for, and what we provide
| Typical requirement | What we provide |
|---|---|
| NeST registration; local preference under the 2023 Act | You bid on NeST; we support you as the manufacturer. |
| Manufacturer’s authorisation | Issued for the tender, naming your company. |
| Datasheet and energy balance | Actual LED power, battery Wh, panel W and dimming profile, sized for the worst month. |
| Test reports: luminaire, battery, IP/IK | For the offered model, in the producing factory’s name with our authorisation. |
| Coastal corrosion protection | Hot-dip galvanized poles with coating set for the corrosivity of Dar es Salaam, Tanga or Mtwara. |
| Warranty and spares | Warranty terms in writing; spare parts list with the offer. |
Sized for Dar es Salaam
We simulated a solar street light night by night on ten years of NASA daily sunshine data (2015–2024). For Dar es Salaam, the worst month averages 4.52 kWh/m²/day (April).
| Design | Dark nights per year in the simulation |
|---|---|
| Panel sized exactly to the worst month, 3 nights of battery | 10.3 |
| Panel 30 % larger, 2 nights of battery | 4.5 |
| Panel 30 % larger, 3 nights of battery (our usual design) | 1.9 |
Our own simulation; see how many days of autonomy a solar street light needs for the method. Every offer states the panel, battery and dimming profile so the result can be checked.
Recommended configurations
| Road | Typical class | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Residential street, market road | P3–P4 | All-in-one solar street light, 6–8 m pole |
| Town centre, collector road | P1–P2 or M5 | Split system or high-output all-in-one, 8–9 m pole |
| Main road, dual carriageway | M3–M4 | Split system with battery high on the pole, or grid LED street lights |
| Junctions, roundabouts, yards | C classes | High masts or double-arm poles |
Import documents
Luminaires and solar-powered appliances are regulated under the TBS pre-shipment verification programme. A certificate of conformity from an appointed agency is needed for clearance; since May 2025, regulated goods arriving without one face a penalty of 15 % of CIF value. Project exemptions need a TBS letter before shipping.
How to order from Tanzania
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Send the tender or road data | Bill of quantities, specification, road widths, pole spacing and the lighting class or lux target. |
| 2. Offer and engineering | Configuration, lighting calculation with IES file, energy balance for Dar es Salaam, documents list and warranty terms. |
| 3. Samples | Sample light for your bid or approval. |
| 4. Order and production | Production to the approved sample; video updates on request. |
| 5. Inspection and certificate | Third-party inspection and the import certificate of conformity before shipment. |
| 6. Shipment | FOB, CIF or DAP, with packing list and installation guide. |
Our commitments
| Commitment | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reply and quotation | We reply within one working day and normally quote within two working days once we have the project data. |
| Engineering with the offer | A lighting calculation with the IES file and an energy balance for your site, so evaluators can check the design. |
| Samples | Samples or prototypes for approval before production, with photos and video. |
| Factory visit or video audit | Visit our partner production bases near Kunming, or ask for a live video tour of the workshops and your order. |
| Third-party inspection | SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your own inspector before shipment. |
| Terms | FOB, CIF or DAP quotations; OEM marking under your own brand on request. |
| First order from your market | Sample terms for a first order from a new market can be discussed, case by case. Ask us when you send the project. |
We work with contractors and distributors in Tanzania. Distributors who want to carry Solmast under their own marking can ask about OEM supply. For the tender side, read our Tanzania tender guide.