Power changes rural economy

Dar es Salaam. Electricity supply in rural areas has opened up several economic activities, including the establishment of agro-processing industries, thanks to a close cooperation between the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) and the Rural Electrification Agency (Rea).

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the  Tanesco managing director, Dr Tito Mwinuka, said they have so far helped open up processing activities in over 300 villages after connecting thousands of people in the rural areas to the national grid.

In an interview with one television station in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Dr Mwinuka said the two institutions were cooperating closely in transmitting electricity to all villages of Tanzania. 
“We thank Rea for the cooperation and mutual support in transmitting power to the villages,” he said, adding economic status of people living in rural areas has also improved significantly.
Dr Mwinuka said reliable supply of electricity was crucial as the nation embarks on an ambitious industrialisation drive.  He added that now that power was readily available in villages the government’s ambition to make Tanzania a middle-income industrial nation was achievable. 
Part of Tanesco’s achievements in the last four years, he said, was to connect Ruvuma and Njombe regions to the national grid, saving the nation from paying a Sh25 billion annual bill to secure fuel for running  generators.
He thanked the government for supporting Tanesco in implementing Kinyerezi II power project.