THE government has increased budget for maintenance of power infrastructure from 197.61m/- in 2021/2022 to 211.56bn/- in the current fiscal year to ensure reliable power supply in the country.
Minister for Energy Mr January Makamba revealed that on Wednesday in Dodoma when he presented implementation report of the Parliament recommendations to the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals.
He told the committee members that the budget increment was done to ensure that infrastructure maintenance is done thoroughly and on time in order to guarantee reliable power supply.
Besides, the government has also set aside 500bn/- for the project aimed at strengthening national grid in which among others a total of 3,930 kilometres of power transmission line will be constructed, 62 power stations and 2,572 kilometres of power distribution line will be built.
Commenting on progress of Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project (JNHPP), he said the project has reached 67.18 per cent and was progressing well because some officials from the departments which are under the ministry were supervising well its implementation.
He said the construction of power transmission infrastructure of 400kv from JNHPP to Chalinze where there is also ongoing construction of power cooling station has reached 60 per cent and is expected to be completed in January 2023.
