Rural Energy Agency (REA) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Energy and Minerals of the United Republic of Tanzania. Its main role is to promote and facilitate improved access to modern energy services in rural areas of Mainland Tanzania. REA became operational in October 2007.
The purpose of REA is to promote and facilitate rural energy development by working in partnership and collaboration with private sector, Non Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, and Government agencies. The main functions of REA are the following.
REA derives its powers from The Rural Energy Act no.8 of 2005. Being an autonomous body, REA’s powers also emanate from sector legislations: In terms of principal legislation in the electricity sector, it derives its powers from the Electricity Act, 2008; and in the petroleum sector, from the Petroleum Supply Act, 2008. As for regulatory framework, REA works closely with multi-sectoral regulatory authority, EWURA which is responsible for technical and economic regulation of the energy and water sectors in Tanzania.