Tanzania says it has connected more than 60% of its rural hamlets to electricity, as part of an ambitious plan to achieve universal access by 2030.
According to the Rural Energy Agency (REA), around 40,000 hamlets have already been electrified, while efforts are now focused on reaching the remaining 14,000 communities.
Officials say the programme has accelerated in recent years, with thousands of new connections underway. More than 11,000 hamlets are currently at different stages of electrification, reflecting what authorities describe as a significant increase in implementation speed.
Despite the progress, a gap remains between urban and rural areas. Current estimates suggest that only 37.1% of rural residents have access to electricity, compared to a national average of about 52%.
The government argues that expanding electricity access is central to its development strategy, linking it to improvements in economic activity, education, and healthcare services in underserved regions.
The electrification programme has been incorporated into upcoming national budgets, with authorities aiming to complete connections across all remaining hamlets within the next few years.
Officials say meeting the 2030 target will depend on sustained investment, faster rollout of infrastructure, and continued coordination between government agencies and development partners.