Over 20 villages in Tunduru District, Ruvuma Region, will be connected to electricity through the implementation of the second phase of the Rural Electrification project being managed by the Rural Energy Agency (REA).
Deputy Minister for Minerals and Energy, Mr George Simbachawene
According to the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr George Simbachawene, REA has already awarded Shandong Taikai Power Engineering Company a tender to implement the project.
Mr Simbachawene said the company was in final preparations to embark on the implementation of the 1.4bn/- project. The minister was responding to a principal question from Tunduru North legislator, Mr Ramo Makani (CCM). Mr Makani had sought to know when Tunduru would have reliable power supply.
Some of works, which will be done during the implementation of the project, according to Mr Simbachawene, include construction of a 33 kV, 247 kilometre transmission line and installation of a 33/11kV large transformer as well as installation of 48 small transformers. According to Mr Simbachawene, a total of 3,330 Tunduru residents would be connected to power once the project was completed.
Mr Simbachawene also outlined some of long-term strategies to ensure sustainable power availability in Tunduru District. According to him, the government planned to connect the district to the national electric grid through Songea.
“Songea will soon be connected to the national grid through the Makambako- Songea project and once the project is completed we will embark on another one to connect Tunduru to the national grid,” said the minister.
According to him, the district would also be connected to electricity to be produced in Mtwara by using natural gas. To ensure that power production projects go together with power transmission and distribution projects in Tunduru District, REA would also embark on projects to improve the transmission infrastructure.
“Implementation of the second phase of the rural electrification project will also include improvement of transmission and distribution networks,” said the deputy Mr Simbachawene minister.
By Christopher Majaliwa, Tanzania Daily News
