THE contractor tasked with improving electricity infrastructure and distribution in the city has been directed to complete the project by February, next year.
The project to improve electricity
infrastructure in the city of Dar es Salaam is being implemented through
the Tanzania Energy Development and Access Program (TEDAP), by SAE
Power Line contractor from Italy under the support of the World Bank.
The directives were issued by the Deputy
Minister for Energy and Minerals, Dr Medard Kalemani, when he toured
projects at Kurasini, Mbagala, Kipawa and Gongo la Mboto stations.
The projects under the supervision of
the Tanzania Electricity Supply Ltd (TANESCO), once completed will
enable more than 10,000 Dar es Salaam residents to be connected to
electricity.
Dr Kalemani directed Tanesco to ensure
by January 15th, 2016, it would have paid compensation to 83 residents
who had agreed to relocate to pave way for implementation of the project
in Mbagala Charambe, Kiburugwa and Kitunda who settled for compensation
totaling 717 million/-. “There are about 23 residents who are not
satisfied with their compensation amounts.
Tanesco must finalize discussions on the
matter as quickly as possible, so they can be paid to enable the
project to continue,” he said. The Deputy Minister added that the 23
people should not hinder more than 10,000 people from getting connected
to electricity by 20th of January.
Dr Kalemani urged the public to create
culture of cooperating with the government, when the latter is
implementing electricity projects because they are meant to benefit the
public economically.
“If there are some people impeding
implementation of electricity projects, they should rethink their
position and cooperate with the government. Electricity means improved
economic and development for the public,” he explained. He also directed
the utility company to do away with bureaucracy and stop cutting off
power, especially during this festive season.
Speaking earlier, Tanesco Project
Manager, Eng, Frank Mashalo said delay in completing the project was due
to a section of the affected public in Mbagala refusing to receive
their compensation.
Summing up, the Deputy Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry, Paul Masanja said the tour has enabled them
to identify bottlenecks that were hindering completion of the project,
promising that all the shortcomings will be addressed, for the project
to be completed on time.
The Assistant Commissioner of Energy
(Development), James Andilile, said there will be close followup of the
project to ensure challenges are addressed for timely completion.
The cost of implementing the project
that was started in 2010 is 34.2 million US dollars (71.8bn/-) and
already the government has paid, 28 million US dollars (58.8bn/-) TEDAP
is also implementing similar projects in Arusha and Kilimanjaro.
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