The government has taken a major step to ensure that every Tanzanian benefits from reliable electricity, announcing subsidies for households to connect to rural power networks.
Through the Rural Energy Agency (REA), the initiative will support wiring projects across the country, making it easier for citizens to access electricity in their homes.
The announcement was made in Dodoma on November 25, 2025, during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Energy, Ms. Salome Makamba, and REA management to review the progress of nationwide electricity projects.
Ms. Makamba highlighted that the government is extending electricity to 9,000 villages, fulfilling President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s promise to bring power closer to citizens.
“Through REA, we are implementing plans that deliver fast and tangible results. Within 100 days, citizens will witness significant progress as more households are connected to electricity,” she said.
The deputy minister also underlined the importance of clean cooking energy, describing it not as a luxury but as essential for protecting the environment, improving public health, and saving time.
Transitioning from traditional fuels like firewood and charcoal to clean cooking energy can reduce cooking time by over 70 percent.
“I urge Tanzanians to embrace clean cooking energy. It helps protect the environment and saves substantial time in food preparation, especially for women who spend long hours in the kitchen. Clean cooking energy is a priority of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and should be part of our daily lives,” Ms. Makamba said.
The government is providing subsidies to make cooking gas more affordable while expanding refilling stations across the country to improve access.
As part of the program, REA has launched a special project to provide clean cooking energy to more than 50 institutions with populations of 100 or more, reducing environmental damage and increasing efficiency in food preparation.
Ms. Makamba also directed contractors to accelerate project completion while maintaining quality, emphasizing that delays or substandard work will not be tolerated given the large government investments involved.
REA Director General, Eng. Hassan Saidy, confirmed that the agency is speeding up electricity connections in rural communities. Out of 64,359 villages nationwide, 39,000 have already received electricity, while work continues in 2,500 villages.
The final stages of wiring are underway in 9,000 additional villages.
During her visit, Ms. Makamba toured the Zuzu electricity transmission and distribution center to assess progress and ongoing construction work, ensuring government initiatives continue to reach citizens efficiently.