ARUSHA, October 12,
2012
– The Tanzanian Rural Energy Agency has selected 15 winners from 102 innovative
proposals submitted in the Lighting Rural
Tanzania Competition 2012 (LRTC 2012). Each of the winners will receive
about $100,000 for a total of $1.5 million financed by the World Bank. The competition
follows a similar contest in 2010 (LRTC
2010), which awarded $1 million to 10 winners in the country that resulted
in improved access to energy and lighting for over
125,000 individuals and for the users of
52 public facilities.
LRTC
2012 focuses on increasing access to modern lighting systems in schools and
health facilities in rural Tanzania. Concept notes were received from social
entrepreneurs, private foundations, government agencies, academia, the private
sector, individuals, and civil society.
A team of independent assessors with expertise in energy, business, and
community development reviewed the proposals. These assessors selected 26
finalists who were then given six weeks to prepare concrete proposals. Ten
jurors reviewed the proposals at the LRTC
2012 event in Arusha from October 1-2, before they finally selected the
winners. The implementation of the
winning projects will be completed in 18 months.
While
opening the competition in Arusha, Tanzania’s
Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Hon. George Simbachawene,
noted, “As of now, less than 20
percent of households in mainland Tanzania have access to electricity services,
whereas in the rural areas it is 6.6 percent.New ideas and innovations that can
work efficiently and sustainably are important.” The minister commended the
successful implementation of nine out of 10 projects launched at the LRTC 2010.
Rural Energy Board
Chairman,
Ambassador Ami Mpungwe, highlighted
the role of the private sector as strategic partner in energizing and
transforming rural Tanzania. “REA is
deeply committed to rendering whatever assistance may be required, within its
ability, to support the local private sector in becoming more proactive and
more involved in the provision of modern sources of energy to Rural Tanzania,”
Amb. Mpungwe said.
Ms.
María Hilda Rivera, World Bank Energy Analyst stressed the
importance of maintaining a strong collaboration between the REA and the World
Bank in order to reach rural Tanzania with competitive, commercial, and clean
technologies and business services. “Activities implemented by recipients under
LRTC 2012 will serve as a model for other countries seeking to reach their
rural poor with high quality, low cost lighting products and services delivered
via proven business approaches,” she said.
The
winning project proposals were:
1. Provision
of Solar Energy Services to Education Sector Service Institutions in Kibaha
Town Council by Alternative Energy Tanzania;
2. Solar
Project for Lighting Secondary Schools and Dispensaries in Nachingwea by Baraka
Solar Specialist;
3. Electrification
of Public Health Centers and Secondary Schools in Kilwa District by Eng. Conrad Katakweba;
4. Introduction
of Solar Systems in Longido District by Kampuni
ya Kusambaza Teknolojia (KAKUTE Limited);
5.
Provision of Electricity to Off Grid
Rural Secondary Schools and Dispensaries using Wind-solar Hybrid Systems in
Manyara Region by Masotricity Engineering
Company;
6. Solar
Power Electrification in Selected 12 Rural Dispensaries to Improve Quality of Health
Services and Working Environmental for Health Workers in Newala District by Newala District Council;
7. Provision
and Promotion of Markets of Clean Efficient Energy Services to Education
Facilities and Poor Rural Communities in Geita District by Nishati Associates Company;
8. Biogas
for Lighting in Rural Areas of Njombe Region by Jumuiya Ya Orphans Education Center (ORECE);
9. Water
to Wire Pico Hydro for Mpanda Uchindile by PETIDACO
Mechanical Works;
10. PV
Electrification for Lighting Rural Health Facilities and Secondary Schools in
Biharamulo District by RESCO (T) Ltd;
11. Wind-Solar
Hybrid Systems for Sustainable Health Services in Manyara Region by Eng. Samwel Lukas;
12. Rural
Electrification Project - Mkuranga District by Southern Corridor Company Ltd;
13. Lighting
Secondary Schools in Meatu District by Tanzania
Child Rights and Economic Enhancement Programme (TaCREEP);
14. Lighting
Rural Schools in Tanzania by Lake Tanganyika Development and Relief Organisation
(TADERO); and
15. Improving
Access to Lighting Solar PV Systems in Health and Education Centres for
Sustainable Development in Tanzania by
Tanzania Traditional Energy Development Organization (TaTEDO).
About The Rural
Energy Agency (REA):
is a Government of Tanzania institution established under the Rural Energy Act,
2005 to promote and facilitate investment in modern energy services by working
with key partners and collaborators from the public and private sectors in
order to increase access to modern energy services for rural inhabitants and
improve productive use of energy in order to stimulate rural social and
economic development. REA is committed to address the modern energy needs of
large rural population as underscored in REA’s Vision and Mission i.e. “Transformation of rural livelihoods through
provision of modern energy services” and “To promote and facilitate availability and access to modern energy
services in rural Mainland Tanzania” respectively.
Contacts:
Tanzania: Loy Nabeta + (255-22) 21 63 200, lnabeta@worldbank.org
Washington: Aby Toure +1 (202)
473-8302, akonate@worldbank.org
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News Release
2013/102/AFR