NJOMBE: AS the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP) stands at an impressive 99 per cent completion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, has directed experts to expedite repairs in electricity infrastructure to ensure reliable service provision to the public.
He issued the directives on Wednesday, during his tour of Njombe Region, where he switched on the electricity power system for Ikwavila Village and Njombe Girls’ Secondary School in Wanging’ombe District.
He also inspected electricity generation infrastructure and poles at the Tanganyika Wattle Company Limited (TANWAT) factory. During his visit, Dr Biteko emphasised the necessity of promptly addressing infrastructure issues to prevent prolonged disruptions in electricity supply.
He underscored the adverse impact of delayed repairs on citizens’ access to essential services and economic activities. The Deputy Prime Minister’s directives came in the wake of concerns raised by local representatives, including Dr Festo Dugange, Member of Parliament for Wanging’ombe.
Dr Dugange highlighted challenges caused by frequent lightning strikes, leading to transformer damage and prolonged replacement times, significantly affecting social and economic life in the district.
Dr Biteko expressed President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s commitment to resolving electricity-related challenges, particularly with the JNHPP nearing completion.
The project is set to inject 235 megawatts into the national grid this month, with another plant expected to contribute the same capacity in March.
Acknowledging the need for improved electricity distribution, Dr Biteko instructed Tanzania Electricity Company (TANESCO) to construct an electricity cooling station in Wanging’ombe District to stabilise supply amidst increasing demand. He reiterated the government’s dedication to comprehensive development across sectors, including infrastructure, energy, health, and water.
In Wanging’ombe District alone, over 56 per cent of townships now have access to electricity, with plans underway to extend coverage. On upcoming local government election, Dr Biteko urged citizens to prioritise unity and development over partisan divides.
He emphasised the importance of electing leaders committed to community progress and problem-solving. In a bid to enhance education access, Dr Biteko called for the elimination of barriers preventing children from attending school, including uniform requirements, saying the fundamental role of education is shaping the future of Tanzanian youth.
Dr Dugange commended the government’s efforts, noting significant strides in electricity provision across Wanging’ombe District.
With all 108 villages now electrified and ongoing efforts to extend coverage to additional townships, progress is evident. Engineer Godfrey Chibulunje of the Rural Energy Agency provided insights into electrification supply, highlighting substantial investments allocated to rural electrification projects in Njombe Region and Wanging’ombe District.
“Njombe Region has been allocated 70.44bn/- to distribute electricity in rural areas while Wanging’ombe gets 9.35bn/-,” he noted.
Regarding electricity distribution in villages in the region, he said that out of 381 villages, 361 villages already have electricity, equivalent to 94.75 per cent.
In the townships he said that the Region has 1,836 townships where 1,148 townships have electricity equivalent to 62.5 per cent while the work of supplying electricity to the remaining townships is ongoing.
Local leaders expressed gratitude to Dr Biteko for his proactive approach to project oversight and implementation, citing his recent visit to Ikwavila Village as a testimony to his commitment for grassroots development.