Tanzania: Over TZS 180bn Allocated To Electrify 1,956 Villages

Posted on : Friday, 18th June 2021

The government through the Ministry of Energy has allocated TZS 181 billion for rural electrification in the 2021/22 fiscal year. Minister for Energy, Dr Medard Kalemani told the parliament on 2nd June 2021 that all villages will be electrified by the end of year 2022.

 

Tabling his ministry's TZS 2.3 trillion budget, Dr Medard Kalemani said at least 1,956 villages are yet to be connected with electricity, and that with the coming fiscal year's budget, all villages across the country will be electrified under the 3rd phase of the national rural electrification project, REA III round II.

 

Dr Medard Kalemani said by December 2022, all 12,268 villages countrywide will be electrified. He said REA has already mapped the un-connected villages and engaged contractors who have been tested and passed, saying he was confident they will deliver within the stipulated timeline.

 

The energy minister listed other projects that will be implemented in 2020/21 as Kakono (87MW), Kikonge (300MW), Kinyerezi I Extension (185MW), Malagarasi (45MW), Mtwara (300MW), Ruhudji project (358MW), Rumakali (222MW) and renewable energy projects (solar 150MW, wind 200MW and coal 600MW).

 

"We're committed to increasing our power distribution networks," he added.

 

He said renewable energy projects and geothermal among others will be engaged because the government wants to have enough energy.

 

Other projects which are lined up for implementation in the coming financial year include the 220kV Bulyanhulu- Geita, 220kV Geita-Nyakanazi, 220kV Makambako- Songea, 220kV Rusumo-Nyakanazi,400 kV SingidaArusha- Namanga and 400kV Iringa-Mbeya-Tunduma- Sumbawanga-MpandaKigoma-Nyakanazi, which is commonly known as Northwest grid.