Tanzania is inviting companies from the UK to invest in renewable energy to achieve the government’s goal of increasing the electricity supply generated from renewable sources in the national grid.
This announcement was made on 26th September 2024 by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Engineer Felchesmi Mramba during a meeting in Dodoma with a delegation from the UK Embassy in Tanzania.
Mramba informed the delegation that investments are needed in solar power for household use in areas outside the national grid, and investments in solar energy that will enter the grid.
He added that investments in solar energy have already begun through the Kishapu-Shinyanga project (150MW), and additional investments will take place in other regions of the country, including Dodoma (200 MW).
The Ministry is also seeking investments in wind energy where several areas have already been identified for potential electricity generation, including Dodoma, Singida, Mbeya, Makambako, Same, Mara, and Arusha which require cooperation for investment.
Additionally, the Permanent Secretary highlighted Tanzania’s intention to use cleaner energy sources for electricity generation including blue hydrogen derived from natural gas resources and biogas energy, especially in rural areas with large livestock populations.
Speaking at the meeting Engineer Mramba highlighted: “Tanzania is blessed with abundant renewable energy sources, as we also have a vast geothermal resource base in nearly 52 areas that, if developed would generate more electricity than Kenya which currently produces about 1,000 megawatts from geothermal energy.”
On his part, Mr. Euan Davidson, the Leader of the Sustainable Development Team from the UK Embassy in Tanzania, expressed gratitude for receiving detailed information from the Ministry of Energy, which will be used by his country to identify areas for collaboration with Tanzania in energy sector investments.
He noted that the discussions between the leaders are important, as Tanzania is one of the countries prioritized by the UK in various matters, including investment.
Tanzania’s Renewable Energies
According to the DARUBINI report of May 2023, Tanzania has abundant renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy.
However, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), as of 2021, around 80% of households in Tanzania still rely on traditional biomass sources, such as firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating.
According to the World Bank, Tanzania ranks as one of the countries with the fastest electricity expansion rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an overall increase in access of 37.7% between 2011 and 2020 in both rural and urban areas.
In 2021 Tanzania moved up 8 places in one year in terms of readiness to shift to clean energy, to position 80 out of 115 countries in the Energy Transition Index of the World Economic Forum.
