This was said by Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Charles Kitwanga, when responding to a question raised by Gaudence Kayombo (Mbinga North - CCM) who wanted to know about government plans to distribute electricity in all villages in Mbinga district.

 

Responding, Deputy Minister Kitwanga said the government was implementing power projects under the REA Phase 2, adding that areas to benefit from the project in the district included Mbagamao, Dee Paul Secondary, Kigonsera, Kitanda, Kigonsera Mission, Lusonga, Mkumbi, Utiri, Mkumbi mission, Mkako, Kihaha, Masumuni and Matarawe.

 

He said the project was being implemented under the LTL project, which started in October, last year, and was expected to be completed in June 2015 at a total cost of 4.59bn/-.

 

Elaborating, he said the project involved construction of an 80-kilometre, 33-kilowatt power line and installation of 17 transformers. Meanwhile, Tumbe legislator Rashid Ali Abdallah has asked the government to explain when it would increase the percentage of power access to ordinary Tanzanians.

 

Responding , Mr Kitwanga said the government had been taking various measures aimed at increasing the percentage of people connected with power.

 

He said the government had come up with the Power System Master Plan (PSMP) that aimed at increasing the number of people with energy.

 

According to him, the government had been fulfilling all its pledges in power connection, depending on the availability of financial resources.

 

The majority of pledges had so far been implemented and a good number of people were now connected with electricity compared to a few years back. He said at the moment Tanzanians who had access to electricity stood at 36 per cent, up from only 10 per cent registered in the year 2010.

Source : ALL AFRICA