iTEC
Over 4000 villagers in Arusha benefit from solar power plant

Ngurdoto

OVER 4,000 villagers in Ngurdoto village, Meru District will soon start engaging into irrigation farming following the decision by the Korean government to establish solar powered water well worth 150m/- in the village

 

The 6.5kw plant has been built by the Arusha-based Innovative Technology and Energy centre (ITEC)
Speaking during the official opening of the plant, ITEC managing director Dr. Herb Rhee said that the project will among others enable villagers to set-up income generating activities and fight poverty.
According to him, so far about 43 houses including one kindergarten classroom had been connected to solar power as well as installing 10 street lights for security purposes.
The project will continue to more houses at Mseseweni village because the majority of people do not have access to electricity.
Dr Rhee said that the ownership of the plant will be transferred to Ngurdoto village and power connection will be charged to households in accordance with their usage. Also ITEC will install smart meters to monitor the power usage profile for each house.
He highlighted that during the implementation monthly fee will be collected by village committee and the money will be also managed by committee.
“The collected money will be submitted to the village committee to pay small salaries to the solar power plant manager as well as pay for expenses for operations and maintenance of the plant,” he said.
This is the second solar power plant; the first plant was built at Mkalama village in Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region.
For his part, village chairman, Moses Ayo expressed his gratitude to the Korean government for bringing the light to the darkness.
“We are very happy today because we have lived in darkness since 1973, we normally use traditional kerosene lamps ‘kibatari’, fire torches to light our homes,” he noted.
According to him, the project will also provide room for villagers to reduce health hazards by enabling replacement of kerosene lamps, fire torch and smoky kerosene lamp that harms their eyes and respiratory system.
Currently Ngurdoto village has five suburbs comprising 4000 residents and among those, only one suburb has been connected to electricity.
“We still need electricity for irrigation farming activities, typing, domestic use and other income generating activities,” he noted.
Speaking during the occasion, Arumeru District Commissioner, Jerry Muro said the government will continue to working closely with stakeholders to solve challenges facing people in their areas.
He lauded the Korean government for the support, saying it will help to create employment opportunities for youths, as well as scaling up businesses and education in the area.
“We have already formed village committee that will collect money from villagers, the funds will be used for maintenance and operation of the plant to help people continue to access power for their domestic and commercial use,” he noted.
Muro called on village committee to refrain from political issues that raise conflicts to the community but rather focus on helping people to solve the challenges they are facing.
“Students will also get an opportunity to study and do their assignments during the evening something which will rise their performances in class and examinations.”

 

Guardian, Tanzania: 2019. Jan. 28

URL: https://go.shr.lc/2DEGtAq

456 | 28-01-2019