On behalf of the Rural Energy Board, I have a pleasure to present the Annual
Report for the financial year 2013/14. The report covers the performance of the
implementation of the rural energy projects, audited financial statements,
challenges faced by the Agency as well as way forward. It is our duty to
continue to inform all our esteemed stakeholders about our operations in this
7th year since establishment of the Agency. As establishing made clear depict,
REA is a statutory body, entrusted to promote and facilitate access to modern
energy services in rural areas of Mainland Tanzania.
During the period under review, REA continued to make a significant
contribution to the energy sector by continue supporting the implementation
ongoing and new rural energy projects, providing technical assistance to various
project developers; coordinating capacity building programmes for both project
developers and staff. The Agency also continued to mobilize financial and
non-financial resources to implement the activities of the Agency and REF.
The Agency has further made tremendous trek toward facilitating private
sector projects developers toward implementing various off grid rural energy
projects by issuance of guidelines, regular monitoring of their operations as
well as disseminating knowledge and awareness on opportunities available in
implementing rural energy projects. To the Agency, this is testimony of
seriousness and commitment of the Rural Energy Board, Management and Staff in
upholding good governance.
Despite of the efforts made by the Agency, the reporting period was also
characterized by many challenges. These included, lack of sufficient resources
to finance the immense demand for modern energy services in rural areas;
inability of the majority of the rural population to pay for modern energy
services; and low level of private sector participation in the rural energy
projects. Efforts to resolve the problem and facing the challenges are being
made by the Agency in collaboration with various stakeholders including the
Ministry of Energy and Minerals; and hence the Agency has continued to work hand
in hand to address the challenges.
Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic about what the future holds, not
only for REA, but also for various stakeholders that REA works with. I am
confident that REA will continue to facilitate provision of modern energy
services to rural communities so that our country’s economy can grow and
develop. Our focus now will be on how many rural Tanzanians we are helping to
access modern energy services and the extent to which their lives are being
transformed.
As we look forward to seizing the opportunities that lie ahead, I would like
to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Tanzania for its continued
commitment in supporting REF. I would also like to thank the Rural Energy Board
Members for their outstanding and dedicated service. The good performance of the
Agency in the year under review is a testimony to their valuable input. I
eagerly anticipate their continued contribution to improved modern energy access
in rural areas.
Once again I take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board members, Ministry
of Energy and Minerals, REA Director General Dr. Lutengano Mwakahesya, members
of Staff and all stakeholders who made the financial year 2013/14 a success. I
would also like to convey my sincere appreciation to our partners, especially
the World Bank, who continued to provide funding support for various energy
projects. We are also grateful for the financial support accorded by the
Government of Sweden to REF and the strengthened capacity of our staff.
Amb. Ami Mpungwe
Chairman of the Rural Energy Board
March 2015