Mpale village, Korogwe District in Tanzania at least 50 households are connected to solar micro-grid. This was realised during a project launched between the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in collaboration with Ensol Tanzania Ltd.

The village is in the remote and mountainous Mpale Ward in Korogwe District, Tanga Region. With a population of more than 3,000 inhabitants and 730 households.

Since its establishment in 1972, the village has never had electricity. Most of the people in the village have been relying on unsafe and unclean kerosene as a lighting source.

During the launch of the project Dr Juliana Pallangyo, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said connection of power to the area will improve social lives and boost economic activities.

“I would like to thank UNCDF and Ensol for their efforts in promoting access to electricity. Particularly renewable energy to improve local economic development and livelihoods,” she said. So far, Ensol has  connected 50 households in Mpale Village to the solar micro-grid.

There are more plans to expand the project by connecting a total of 250 households by June 2018.

“I would like to urge Mpale villagers and all other people in this district to use power for income generating activities and not for lighting only,” she said.

Dr Pallangyo said that the health center in Mpale Village is now connected to the solar micro-grid.

She also requested the district officials to ensure health services are provided to wananchi as required. The Mpale project manager, Mr Prosper Magali said the partnership with UNCDF has been crucial in the solar micro-grid project.

Posted on : 23 Sep,2017