Deputy
Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga, announced that residents living along major
energy projects will benefit from these projects through improved access to
various services.
She made
these remarks on August 30, 2024, in Parliament, Dodoma, while responding to a
question from Ally Kasinge, the Member of Parliament for Kilwa South. Kasinge
wanted to know the government's plans to ensure that Songosongo Island in
Lindi, which has natural gas wells and processing plants, receives reliable
electricity.
“Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Dr. Doto Biteko, has already instructed
officials to ensure that residents receive not only reliable electricity but
also improved social services,” she noted.
Kapinga
assured Parliament that the government has started working on this directive.
“We are
making efforts to provide Songosongo residents with consistent electricity and
enhancing other social services related to the energy projects in their area,”
she assured.
She also
spoke about plans to extend grid electricity to island areas. Kapinga noted
that Tanzania has about 120 islands, and the government has begun assessing how
to provide grid electricity to these regions.
“Currently,
the islands mainly rely on solar power. The government has introduced subsidies
of 50% to 55% to ensure residents have reliable electricity throughout,” she
noted.