Mbeya set to benefit from 10.9bn/- power project

MBEYA: THE Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson, has announced the commencement of a 10.9bn/- project, aimed at connecting electricity to 105 hamlets in Mbeya Region.

The project is being undertaken by the Electrical Transmission Distribution Construction and Maintenance Company (ETDCO) and is expected to serve 3,465 customers upon completion.

Speaking during the project handover ceremony held in Igawilo Ward, Dr Tulia, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Mbeya Urban, expressed her appreciation to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her continued commitment to national development through the rollout of key infrastructure projects.

She noted that, since the launch of the Rural Energy Agency (REA) initiatives in the 2021/2022 financial year, the government has allocated a total of 71 billion shillings for rural electrification efforts in Mbeya.

Dr Tulia urged the ETDCO team to ensure the project is completed on time so that the residents of the targeted hamlets can begin to benefit from access to electricity.

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“Our country has sufficient electricity, thanks to the completion of the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Power Project (JNHPP). This distribution project to the 105 hamlets must be delivered as scheduled to ensure citizens gain access to this vital service,” she said.

ETDCO’s Acting Director for Technical Services, Dismas Massawe, confirmed that the company is fully prepared to carry out the project efficiently and in line with the agreed timeline.

REA Board Chairman, Ambassador Major General (Retired) Jacob Kingu, called on residents to begin preparing by putting in place the necessary infrastructure to receive electricity in their homes.

Local residents have welcomed the project with enthusiasm, expressing their gratitude to the government and noting that access to electricity will open up greater economic opportunities particularly for small businesses and the expansion of modern agricultural practices.