History was in Tanga region yesterday when President Jakaya Kikwete inaugurated a unique electricity generation plant.

It is the first plant of its kind in the world to produce electricity from sisal waste, an important piece of creativity towards eco-energy production.

The new plant is not only important in efforts to revive the sisal industry, but also as a solution of energy problem that affects the same.

And it doesn't come cheap. It has taken 16 good years to bring it to fruition. Kudos to all parties involved, both locals and foreigners, under the leadership of the Katani (Company) Limited managing director Salum Shamte and his colleagues.

It is innovations like the one in Tanga and many others such as those showcased in the recent Group of Eight meeting by Japan that will save us from over reliance on climate damaging sources of energy.

We have been relying on fossils as major sources of oil/ energy for too long. Through the use of such materials, nations have developed leaving the planet in peril.

We have done very little in using renewable energy. We cannot continue doing so. That is why Tanzania should walk with its head high for joining the likes of high-tech countries like Japan, which has made tremendous achievements in adopting eco-friendly means of production, by coming up with such a great innovation. Let it be replicated in other sisal growing areas.