Tanzania: Pressure mounts on REA Phase III contractors
Earlier this year, Tanzania's energy and minerals deputy
minister, Dr Medard Kalemani, instructed contracted companies to ensure that
they electrify identified villages under phase two of the Rural Energy Agency
(REA II) project.
ESI Africa previously reported that Kalemani gave the
instructions while
he was on a tour, inspecting the progress off the Rural
Energy Agency (REA) Phase III, which is stated to have achieved 94% success
since it started.
During the inspection, the deputy minister discovered
that although the project is in complete stages, there were some villages
still left in the dark.
At that time, Tanzania Electric Supply Company's Rufiji
District manager, Basilias Kayombo, explained that they decided to skip the
areas because some villagers were obstructing their work, including filing
cases in court.
Gov to take action against contractors
Reiterating those directives was minister for energy and
minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, who over the past weekend said government will
take serious measures including denying work permits to companies that will
fail to meet the deadline in implementing phase three of the Rural Energy
Agency (REA III) project.
Mohongo told the media that during the implementation of
REA Phase III project, all villages that were left out during REA I and II
phases will be covered.
He said the government would not allow any firm to become
a barrier in its goals and that companies awarded tenders to supply electricity
in those villages should meet their contract deadlines, media reported.
REA Phase III to drive reliable electricity
It is reported that Muhongo further stated that
government's intention to make Tanzania an industrialised economy would not be
possible without reliable electricity in the country.
The energy minister said the government has decided to
invest more than TZS800 billion ($353 million) in each region to ensure there
is reliable power both in rural and urban areas, media reported.
He said in three years, all Tanzanians in rural areas
will be connected to the national grid.
Source: esi-africa
Phase I connected around 34,000 new customers and phase II still ongoing in October 2016 was connecting 334,000