By The Respondent Reporter
Ludewa, Njombe – On July 19, 2024,
the private electricity generation company, Madope, located in the Ludewa
district, Njombe region, finalized an agreement to hand over its power
transmission and distribution infrastructure to the Tanzania Electric Supply
Company (Tanesco) following the signing of a crucial contract.
This development was disclosed by
Deputy Minister of Energy, Hon. Judithi Kapinga, during a working visit to the
villages of Lubonde and Maweni in Ludewa district.
Kapinga highlighted the government’s
appreciation for the significant work done by the Catholic Church in
collaboration with the government in various investment sectors. She emphasized
the Sixth Phase Government’s commitment to ensuring national development and
affirmed continued cooperation with private power producers in the country.
Addressing rural electrification, Kapinga noted that only 151 villages nationwide remain without electricity service out of over 12,000 villages, with eight of these villages located in the Ludewa district. She instructed the Rural Energy Agency (REA) to oversee the contractor executing electrification projects in Ludewa, ensuring timely completion in the remaining eight villages.
"Our goal is to continue
generating more electricity to meet the increasing demand and to support
projects that export electricity outside Tanzania," Kapinga stated.
Previously, the Chairman of Madope
Power Company, Father Innocent Ngailo, announced that the Catholic Church in
Njombe had written to the government requesting Tanesco to take over Madope’s
power infrastructure. He expressed gratitude for the government's positive
response.
Father Ngailo confirmed that Madope
would continue to generate electricity, which it will sell to TANESCO. "We
promise to collaborate with Tanesco to ensure reliable electricity supply to
the people," he said.
The Madope project is owned 55% by the
Catholic Church, 45% by the Ludewa District Council, and 5% by the Mawengi
Electricity Users Association (JUWUMA).