MORE than 9,000 residents from 32 villages in Mufindi District, Iringa Region, are expected to benefit from electricity generated by a wind power project in Usokami Village, which aims to stimulate economic activities and improve living standards.
Iringa Regional Commissioner Mr Kheri James has urged leaders in villages surrounding the project to mobilise residents to protect its infrastructure and ensure a reliable supply of electricity.
He made the call during a visit to the project on the first day of a five-day tour to inspect industries and investments across Iringa Region.
Mr James said the project has an installed generation capacity of 3.9 megawatts and is expected to benefit residents in 32 villages across six wards in Mufindi District.
He stressed that access to electricity provides an important opportunity for residents to establish and expand productive activities, businesses and small-scale economic ventures that can increase household incomes.
Meanwhile, Mwenga Hydro Power Limited manager Mr Deogratius Massawe said the company was committed to ensuring that residents had access to reliable and affordable electricity to support production and business activities in communities surrounding the project.
He said access to electricity could create economic opportunities and promote community development by enabling people to use power for various productive activities.
Speaking on behalf of beneficiary communities, Mr Michael Mahenge said the project had helped ease economic activities that previously faced challenges due to limited access to electricity.
He said residents were beginning to benefit from new production opportunities, including maize milling services, which have made daily activities easier and created opportunities to generate income.
The investment, reported to be worth more than 50bn/-, forms part of efforts to strengthen energy access and stimulate economic development in rural communities.
However, the project’s long-term success will also depend on community participation in protecting its infrastructure and making productive use of electricity to increase output and household incomes.