Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi announced that Tanzania is at the forefront of Africa in providing electricity to its citizens. He cited World Bank statistics, which highlight the country's remarkable progress in expanding access to electricity. As of now, Tanzania has 9 million electricity customers. TANESCO serves 6 million of these customers, while the Rural Energy Agency (REA) serves the remaining 3 million.
The Vice President made these remarks during a ceremony in Dar es Salaam, where the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) and CRDB Bank signed an agreement to finance electricity connections. This partnership aims to make it easier for Tanzanians to access electricity. The agreement will help increase the number of people with electricity connections, especially in rural areas.
The financing scheme targets 500,000 rural customers annually. Under this scheme, CRDB Bank will cover the 27,000/- electricity connection fee for beneficiaries. This initiative is expected to significantly increase electricity access in rural areas. The government is working hard to ensure that more people have access to electricity.
In urban areas, TANESCO and CRDB Bank have established a special arrangement. This arrangement allows customers to pay connection costs in instalments. This will make it easier for urban residents to connect to the electricity grid. The government is committed to making electricity more accessible to all Tanzanians.
The Peri-Urban project is another initiative aimed at increasing electricity access. This project targets residents living in areas with characteristics similar to rural communities but located within towns, municipalities, or cities. These residents will also benefit from the 27,000/- connection fee. The project will help bridge the gap in electricity access in peri-urban areas.
Vice President Ndejembi commended CRDB Bank for its initiative. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between financial institutions and the private sector in removing financial barriers to electricity access. This partnership will help more Tanzanians access electricity, which is essential for economic development and improving living standards.
The government's efforts to increase electricity access are yielding positive results. Tanzania now leads Africa in connecting citizens to electricity services. The country aims to continue this progress and ensure that all Tanzanians have access to electricity. The partnership between TANESCO and CRDB Bank is a significant step towards achieving this goal.
Key points
- Tanzania has 9 million electricity customers, with 6 million served by TANESCO and 3 million by REA.
- The financing scheme targets 500,000 rural customers annually, with CRDB covering the 27,000/- electricity connection fee.
- The Peri-Urban project will also benefit from the 27,000/- connection fee, targeting residents in areas with characteristics similar to rural communities.
