Power plan laudable

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam

Reports that the government plans to undertake major electricity projects in several regions are good news indeed.

Kigoma residents should be particularly elated after learning that a hydropower station capable of producing 8MW is to be built on River Malagarasi in the region.

This is a very significant development given that the region has yet to be connected to the national grid and instead depends on ageing diesel generators, which frequently break down.

It’s not uncommon for Kigoma residents to endure blackouts lasting several days. Hopefully, this suffering will come to an end once the Sh70 billion station is commissioned. A reliable supply of electricity should also spur sustainable development in the investment-starved region.

The building of the station is part of an ambitious plan to improve the availability of electricity that also covers Tanga, Dodoma, Morogoro, Iringa, Mbeya and Mwanza regions.

These regions are connected to the national grid, but the infrastructure is still rudimentary and only a tiny fraction of residents have access to electricity.

It is thus commendable that the government plans to spend Sh117 billion to improve electricity supply and make power available to more people in the regions, particularly those in rural areas.

This project should give hope people in the seven regions and others where electricity is still in short supply.