The Electrical Transmission and Distribution, Construction and Maintenance Company Limited (ETDCO) has officially been awarded a project to extend electricity to 105 sub-villages in the Mbeya Region.
The project, valued at TZS 10.9 billion and funded through the Rural Energy Agency (REA), is expected to benefit approximately 3,465 new customers.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held today in Igawilo Ward, Mbeya City, the Speaker of the National Assembly and Member of Parliament for Mbeya Urban, Dr. Tulia Ackson, expressed her appreciation to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, for her continued commitment to improving the lives of Tanzanians through key development initiatives.
Dr. Ackson highlighted that since the inception of the REA project in the 2021/2022 financial year, the government has allocated over TZS 71 billion to expand rural electrification across Mbeya Region.
She urged ETDCO to complete the project within the agreed timeframe to ensure that residents can access reliable electricity as soon as possible.
“Our country now has adequate power supply thanks to the major Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project. It is therefore essential that the implementation of this electricity distribution project across 105 sub-villages is completed promptly, so that our communities can begin to benefit from this important resource,” said Dr. Ackson.
Engineer Dismas Massawe, Acting Director of Technical Services at ETDCO, affirmed the company's readiness to implement the project professionally and on schedule, in line with the contractual obligations, to ensure timely access to electricity for the intended beneficiaries.
Also speaking at the event, REA Board Chairperson, Retired Major General Ambassador Jacob Kingu, called on residents to begin preparing their homes and infrastructure to receive electrical connections, so they can take full advantage of the service once it is available.
Local residents have welcomed the initiative, commending the government for its commitment to improving livelihoods. They noted that access to electricity will expand economic opportunities in the region, particularly in small businesses, modern agriculture, and agro-processing industries.
