Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi has directed the Rural Energy Agency (REA) to stop awarding new contracts to poorly performing contractors, warning that delays and substandard work could undermine the government’s ambitious rural electrification agenda.
The minister issued the directive on Monday during a meeting that brought together REA officials, contractors and stakeholders involved in rural energy projects.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to contractors who excelled in implementing electricity projects in villages and hamlets, including those who completed their assignments ahead of schedule.
Mr Ndejembi said strict accountability was necessary to ensure that electricity projects are delivered efficiently and within agreed timelines, enabling more Tanzanians to benefit from reliable power connections.
“Electricity is no longer a luxury but a basic necessity. Our goal is not only to connect people to the grid, but also to ensure that electricity is used productively to improve livelihoods and drive economic transformation,” he said.
He noted that access to electricity has become a key driver of development by improving learning conditions in schools, strengthening healthcare services and creating opportunities for businesses and industries to grow.
The minister commended REA for the significant progress achieved in expanding electricity access across the country. According to him, national electricity access has risen to 85.5 percent, while rural access has reached 78.1 percent, compared to just two percent when the agency was established in 2007.
He also praised the agency for successfully extending electricity to all 12,318 villages on Mainland Tanzania. In addition, 40,182 of the country’s 64,359 hamlets, representing 62.4 percent, have already been connected to electricity.
“These achievements demonstrate the government’s commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind in accessing modern energy services,” he said.
Mr Ndejembi further hailed contractors who were recognised for outstanding performance, saying their work reflects the growing capabilities of Tanzania’s construction and energy sectors. He urged REA to continue rewarding excellence and prioritise competent contractors in future projects.
Among the local firms singled out for exceptional performance were Derm Electric, SUMA JKT, Nakuroi and Sengerema. The minister said the companies had demonstrated that local contractors possess the capacity to successfully implement large-scale infrastructure projects and should therefore be entrusted with more assignments.
At the same time, he reminded contractors to comply with labour regulations by paying workers their dues on time and creating employment opportunities for young people in communities where projects are being implemented.
He also called on local leaders and residents to play an active role in protecting electricity infrastructure from vandalism and theft.
REA Director General Hassan Saidy said the meeting was the second of its kind and forms part of efforts to strengthen accountability, improve project quality and recognise contractors delivering exceptional results.
He revealed that REA is currently implementing 13 major projects nationwide, supported by 150 contracts aimed at extending electricity services to nearly 17,000 hamlets.
Mr Saidy said the agency would continue enhancing its monitoring and evaluation mechanisms while maintaining incentives for high-performing contractors and taking corrective measures against those failing to meet contractual obligations.
He thanked the Ministry of Energy for providing policy guidance and support that has enabled the agency to accelerate implementation of key projects.
He also challenged Tanzanian contractors to strengthen their technical expertise, financial capacity and corporate governance structures in order to build competitive companies capable of securing opportunities beyond the country’s borders.
Rural Energy Board (REB) Chairman Ambassador Major General (Retired) Jacob Kingu said the board was proud of the progress achieved by REA, particularly the milestone of connecting all villages in Mainland Tanzania to electricity.
He said ongoing efforts to electrify remaining hamlets are expected to be completed by 2030, marking another major step towards achieving universal access to electricity and supporting Tanzania’s long-term development ambitions.
