Dodoma—More than 300 areas across Tanzania have been connected to electricity under the government’s ongoing Strategic Electrification Project, aimed at accelerating socio-economic development by bringing power to key sectors including small-scale mining, fishing zones, industries, and rural communities.
Deputy Minister for Energy, Judith Kapinga, revealed this in Parliament while responding to a question from Mwibara MP Charles Kaijage, who had inquired about the government’s efforts to supply electricity to fishing communities to help improve their livelihoods and boost local economies.
“The strategic electrification initiative has already reached over 300 locations,” said Ms Kapinga. “These include critical public service points such as health centres and water wells, which are now benefiting from reliable power supply.”she added
In response to a supplementary question from Igunga MP Nicholas Ngassa regarding electricity distribution in his constituency, the deputy minister explained that Igunga comprises 337 hamlets, of which 95 have already been connected to electricity.
She added that 15 additional hamlets are currently under electrification through Phase II A of the Hamlet Electrification Project (HEP IIA), while tenders have been floated for works in 69 more hamlets under Phase II B (HEP IIB).
Ms Kapinga assured the House that the government, through the Rural Energy Agency (REA), remains committed to completing electrification in the remaining 158 hamlets in Igunga and other underserved areas.
She further reaffirmed that the electricity connection fee in rural areas remains at an affordable rate of 27,000 Tanzanian shillings and noted that a new phase of the project is set to begin, aiming to bring power to hamlets both with and without direct access to the national grid.
Source Daily News