“By partnering with development partners
and Financing institutions, the government, through Rural Energy Agency
will continue to facilitate implementation of modern energy projects
for off-grid solutions to a greater extent, resulting in additional
electrification of villages,” he said.
In a speech read by Engineer Jones Olotu
on his behalf to open a meeting on financial inclusion for renewable
energy enterprises held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, Dr Mwakahesya
pointed out that inclusion for renewable energy enterprises was
important to acceleration of rural electrification.
He said that the government recognizes
that achieving its vision of transforming rural livelihood through
provision of modern energy service would require involvement of wide
range of implementing agencies, including financial institution,
renewable energy enterprises as well as the community at large.
“The government emphasizes on rural
electrification as a key input in enhancing growth and economic
development of the country. It is therefore necessary to mobilize
financial resources and implementing capabilities of the sector if rural
energy service provision is to be significantly implemented,” he said.
Dr Mwakahesya disclosed that the census
report of 2012 revealed that 74 per cent of the Tanzania’s population
lives in rural areas where the supply and availability of modern energy
service is scarce and unreliable with majority relying on traditional
biomass energy for cooking and lighting.
According to him, the survey conducted
by REA in 2014 also revealed that the access rate of electricity in
Tanzania has grown from around 10 per cent in 2007 to 36 per cent in
2014, while in rural areas the access grew from around two per cent in
2007 to 21 per cent in 2014.
He said that although such trend shows a
quick upward growth, many rural households and villages are still
un-electrified and lack the benefits of economic development that is
usually associated with electrification.
“As of today, 4,718 villages out of
15,209 have been electrified, over 10,500 villages do not enjoy this
story; to them it is still a distant dream,” said Dr Mwakahesya. He,
therefore, pointed out that joint efforts would create a sustainable
business relationship and facilitate smooth flow of financial,
technology and material based resources to rural energy projects.
“It is through this commitment, the
government of Tanzania is urging the development partners, financial
institutions, private sector and all Tanzanians to partner with it in
supporting creation, financing and implementation of modern energy
projects for off-grid solutions,” he appealed.
During the knowledge sharing and
networking meeting, several renewable energy enterprises and financial
institutions such as CRDB Bank, Six Stars Holding Limited, Tanzania
Renewable Energy Business Incubator (TAREBI), Akiba Commercial Bank PLC,
and FINCA Microfinance Bank, gave different presentations.
Others are Sepon LTD, Africa Wind Energy
Technology Company (AWETCO), AGECO Energy and Construction LTD, EFAME
Biogas Enterprises, Galaxy Energy Solutions LTD, Husk Power Systems
Limited, Natural Energy Promotion and Environmental Preservation
(NEPERS) and the Royal Norwegian Society for Development
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