Tanzania: New Projects Dominate Energy Ministry Budget

0
358

THE Ministry of Energy and Minerals yesterday asked the National Assembly to endorse its 1.1tri/- budget estimates for the financial year 2013/14 out of which 90 per cent will be spent on development projects.

And in his trademark oratory skill and pomp, the minister, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, drew the attention of the House to the “fact that the estimates are historical as they are full of facts and figures, designed to take the country into the 22nd century.”

He asked the House to endorse some 110.2bn/- or 10 per cent for expenditures and 992.2bn/- or 90 per cent for development projects, all totaling 1.1tri/-.

“Madam Speaker; in the financial year 2013/14, the government has decided to implement projects that will bring quick and big results. Therefore, some 545.1bn/- out of 558.35 or 98 per cent of domestic funds will be put aside to implement such projects,” he said.

He added: “Out of the 992.2bn/-, some 558.36 or 56 per cent will emanate from domestic sources and 433.8 or 44 per cent from external sources,” he said. He further elaborated that the ministry will be very strict in expenditures and that only serious matters will be entertained.

“The 2013/14 targets at improving electricity availability and reliability, increasing connectivity in rural and urban areas, strengthen supervision in the mineral and energy sector, increase employment and reduce poverty in the country,” he said.

He also pointed out that the ministry will in the course of 2013/14 collect revenues amounting to 220bn/- up from the 2012/13 target of 193bn/-.

“We will be able to collect revenues to meet our targets by improving and supervising contracts in the mining and energy sector, improve mining cadastral information management system, improve activities of small scale miners and educate them on the importance of paying tax… … ..,” he said.

He pointed out that the promise made by the government to reduce connection expenses for 2012/2013 financial year has been implemented since January, this year and many have benefited, adding that the government’s ultimate goal was to ensure that 30 per cent of the population gets connected by 2015.

Source…

Subscribe to our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with the latest news and relevant updates from us.