The Chairman of the Rural Energy Board (REB), Ambassador (Rtd) Major General Jacob Kingu, has urged the Rural Energy Agency (REA) and the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) to strengthen coordination as the government pushes to expand electricity access to rural households under Mission 300.
Speaking in Arusha on November 16, 2025, Amb. Kingu called on the two institutions to introduce ready boards an affordable, pre-wired system designed to ease household connections.
He said the device would significantly reduce the high wiring costs that discourage many rural families from seeking electricity services.
According to him, enabling low-income households to connect more easily is essential for increasing the number of new customers and accelerating rural electrification.
Amb. Kingu encouraged REA’s leadership to hold regular discussions with contractors and other sector players to jointly assess implementation challenges and identify solutions aligned with national electrification targets.
He insisted that stronger engagement and close project supervision were crucial for ensuring value for money and delivering quality infrastructure.
He highlighted ongoing progress in the region, noting that 965 out of 1,505 hamlets equivalent to 64.12 percent have already been connected to electricity through completed and ongoing REA projects.
Additionally, he confirmed that all 368 villages in Arusha Region now have access to electricity, marking what he described as a “significant achievement” in efforts to boost rural development.
Amb. Kingu issued a stern reminder to contractors working under REA to adhere to deadlines and maintain high construction standards.
He said timely completion of projects would allow rural communities to benefit from improved social services and economic opportunities powered by reliable energy supply.
REA’s Regional Project Engineer for Arusha, Eng. Darwin Eradius, said the agency is currently implementing two major initiatives: the Second Phase A Hamlet Electrification Project (HEP 2A) and the Second Phase B Reinforcement and Densification Project (REDP IIB).
He disclosed that the government has allocated TZS 79.6 billion to support electrification works in Arusha, funds dedicated to expanding last-mile connections and strengthening distribution systems.
“These investments demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving social and economic conditions in rural communities,” Eng. Eradius said, adding that REA is working to ensure every eligible household eventually gains access to electricity.
Contractors attending the meeting including Ceylex Engineering (Pvt) Ltd and Urban and Rural Engineering Services Ltd thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for increasing government support to rural energy projects.
They said continued investment in REA programmes is helping unlock local economic growth and lifting the quality of life in remote areas.
