Written by LEAH BROWN

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA - The Board for Energy & Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) has granted license to the Artumas Group & Umoja Light to to generate and transmit electricity in Mtwara and Lindi regions.

 
The Director General for EWURA, Mr Haruna Masebu, said the project was meant for the production of reliable and affordable electricity using natural gas produced at Mnazi Bay.

 Artumas Group first began generating electricity in the Mtwara region at the end of 2006 and has been generating electricity in both Mtwara and Lindi through the use of a provisional license since 2007.

Umoja Light Company Limited (ULC) is a subsidiary company of Artumas Group Inc. (AGI), Canada. ULC was formed to upgrade the Transmission and Distribution System in the Mtwara and Lindi regions of Tanzania.

 
The project will be partly financed by AGI with additional funding under consideration from lending agencies including the FMO of Netherlands. ULC intends to apply part of the funds to cover payments under the contract for the supply of material and equipment 33 KV Distribution and LV Network Expansion. Bidding will be governed by the World Bank’s eligibility rules and procedures.

According to Masebu, the project is aimed at providing services at a reasonable cost to the regions through the utilization of natural gas from Mnazi bay.

 
Masebu said EWURA offered the license for the period of 15 years due to the financial capacity and expertise the companies showed in Lindi and Mtwara project.