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The Rural Electrification Agency has so far electrified 8 053 rural institutions and homes countrywide, an official has said. Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, REA chief executive officer Joshua Mashamba said as at 31 March this year, a total of 8 053 institutions had been electrified.

Of that total, 415 institutions were electrified with solar mini grids, while 437 mobile solar units were installed at remote and satellite institutions and 24 institutional biogas digesters were installed at rural public institutions.

Mr Mashamba said another 194 electrification projects are at various stages of implementation, while 5 155 more institutions will be connected to the national grid by the end of 2015. He, however, said there are a few outstanding electrification projects which had been initiated by rural communities but are failing to raise 50 percent contribution required from them.

“REA is following up on those and encouraging the customers to make payments so that their projects can be completed,” said Mr Mashamba.

The agency is also turning to other solutions, such as constructing solar decentralised mini-grid systems, rolling out solar lamps and biogas digesters for rural schools and clinics, and constructing micro-hydro plants in areas that are far from existing electricity grid.

REA uses 6 percent levied on all electricity consumers to implement its projects in rural areas.

Mr Mashamba said REA has so far grossed $375 961 from its commercial activities meant to augment treasury and consumer levy funds.

The agency hopes to earn about $8 million from its commercial services it outsources in 2015. – New Ziana.