Thursday, March 31, 2016

Government gets tough on rural energy contractors


DAILY NEWS Reporter
THE government has issued two months ultimatum to the Chinese construction firm, China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO) to complete all the electricity projects executed under the Rural Energy Agency (REA).

The Chinese state-owned construction company is implementing power projects in Tabora and Mwanza regions.
The directives were issued by the Energy and Minerals Minister, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, after receiving the report on the implementations of the power projects in the two regions.
“I give you two months until May, this year, to ensure all the projects in the regions of Tabora and Mwanza are completed for the people to start being supplied with electricity that can bring difference to their living standards,” he said.
CHICO’s main business operation covers contracting international engineering projects, consulting service for international projects, international human resource cooperation and exchange, mining development, agriculture investment, undertaking infrastructural projects aided financially by Chinese Government in oversea countries apart from the involvement in information industry.
CHICO maintains and operates regional offices in over 20 countries and regions across Asia, Africa and Europe to service its vibrant business. Prof Muhongo said people in these regions need to be connected with reliable electricity that can spur up and stimulate industrial development necessary for economic growth.
The huge number of Tanzanians is connected to reliable electricity thanks to the investment under REA, the government agency which is accomplishing the second phase of the project expected to round up soon.
REA was established towards the end of 2007 in order to promote and facilitate rural energy development by working in partnership with the private sector, Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations and Government agencies.
The National Energy Policy 2003 sets national energy objectives to ensure availability of reliable and affordable energy supplies and to promote efficient energy use in order to support national development goals.
Meanwhile, Prof Muhongo ordered contractors executing rural energy projects under the Rural Energy Agency (REA) to speed up the works and ensure their completion before next June.
The minister said the government was determined to have the targeted customers connected to essential energy service as soon as possible

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