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Rural electrification drive gets boost 366bn/-

DODOMA: A TOTAL of 366bn/- is expected to be used in execution of a plan to electrify 3,060 hamlets in 15 constituencies in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko, said that the funds will be used in the first phase of the plan’s implementation, emphasising that the government is committed to electrifying all hamlets in the country to improve access to electricity and facilitate connections in rural areas.

The Deputy Prime Minister made these remarks in Dodoma yesterday during the signing ceremony of contracts for projects aimed at ensuring all Tanzanians have access to electricity.

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Dr Biteko said that for nearly 17 years the government has been collaborating with development partners in the implementation of various strategic energy projects in rural areas.

“These contracts we are witnessing today worth 362,825,108,211.45bn/-, have been made possible through the collaboration between the government and the World Bank. Therefore, on behalf of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government, I would like to thank development partners contributing to our Rural Energy Fund, especially the World Bank, the governments of Norway and Sweden, the European Union (EU), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the French Development Agency (AFD),” said Dr Biteko.

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He said citizens expected to benefit from the project have high expectations that access to electricity will improve and uplift their living standards through participation in various economic activities.

“I want to assure all citizens that the government will continue to allocate funds and collaborate with development partners to ensure that electricity reaches all Tanzanians, wherever they are,” added Dr Biteko.

Dr Biteko further warned contractors implementing various strategic energy projects, especially those under the Rural Energy Agency (REA), to work with integrity and complete the projects on time, with REA ensuring fair supervision of the contractors.

“There are reports of contractors asking for money from citizens when bringing the service to rural areas, although the government has already paid them. I urge REA and the contractors, if I receive any such reports, I will not hesitate to take action. Treat everyone fairly,” said Dr Biteko.

For his part, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy and Minerals, David Mathayo, commended the government for its efforts to expand electricity services to 3,060 hamlets, a task currently being implemented by REA.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Rural Energy Agency (REA), Engineer Hassan Said, said that the current expectation is to ensure that electricity reaches every part of the country by September 2024.