The minister told the National Assembly here yesterday that only one third of the MCC funding was channeled to electricity projects around the country. He also insisted that MCC funds were not entirely meant to fund electricity projects, saying the partinership covered other areas such as water and road projects.
"It is a wrong notion to think that MCC funds were only meant for REA projects, the partnership also covered other projects such as improvement of water supply and road networks," he said, when responding to a supplementary question by CHADEMA legislator, Peter Msigwa (Iringa Urban), who wanted to know how the government will implement REA phase III without the MCC support.
Another MP, Esther Bulaya, (CHADEMA-Bunda Urban) questioned the government's resolve to implement REA phase III, while by the end of March this year, only 40 per cent of the budget allocated to cover phase II of the project had been disbursed.
Bulaya had also demanded to know whether villages in Bunda Urban constituency will be covered in the envisaged REA phase III programme. "How will you manage to start implementing phase III while the remaining 60 per cent of the funds meant to cover phase two was yet to be disbursed," she queried.
Responding, minister Muhongo said it was not true that only 40 per cent of the budget was dished out by the government, instead, he said, about 75 per cent of the funds had been dished out and by the end of this month, at least 85 per cent of the work will be completed.
In his basic question, Mpanda Rural lawmaker, Suleiman Kakoso (CCM), said that his constituency was having several villages that have not been connected to electricity under REA. He pointed out that even the implementation of REA II Plan was still lagging behind.
"Most villages in Mpanda rural were not covered during implementation of REA Plan I and II, I wish to know when will the government consider connecting these villages with reliable electricity?" the MP questioned.
Responding, Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Dr Medrad Kalemani, said it was true that REA phase I and II did not cover Mpanda rural constituency but in making sure that residents in the constituency are provided with reliable electricity, the government is planning to include 49 villages together with the District Office in the coming REA phase III.
The third REA Plan would be implemented soon after endorsement of the 2016/17 budget estimates, he said. He said work to supply electricity to Mpanda constituency will involve construction of a 0.4 kilo volts electricity lines, covering a distance of 280 kilometres, installation of 64 transformers as well as connecting 2,452 initial customers. The cost of the project, the deputy minister said, is estimated at 9.4bn/-.
Dr Kalemani further said that the government in collaboration with the government of The Netherlands through ORIO programme, will launch a new 2.5 megawatt power plant in Mpanda town, which will enable many areas in Katavi Region be connected to electricity.
He said after the completion of the project, a total of five villages -- Ifukutwa, Igalula, Kabungu, Majalila and Mchakamchaka within Mpanda rural will be connected to power. The project will start in July this year and be completed by July next year, he said.
Meanwhile, the government has said REA phase III project will cover all villages in Mtwara and Lindi regions. Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Dr Medrad Kalemani said the project will add up to already existing power supply services from gas plant that covers most villages in the two regions.
He was responding to a supplementary question by Lulindi MP, Jerome Bwanausi (CCM) who said the two regions were not covered by REA phase one and two, insisting that it was time now they are included in phase III.
Culled from Daily News
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