Energy in Tanzania

Electricity in Tanzania is generated using gas; hydropower is also a significant source of power.[1] Tanzania has a capacity of 1,689 megawatts (MW) with only 60% of this power available, most of the time, as it highly depends on hydroelectric plants (38% of installed capacities). Only 80% of urban areas have access to electricity while 50% of rural areas have it. 56% of Tanzania’s population lives in these rural areas.[2] Though the country's supply of electricity nearly doubled between 2005 and 2011, only about 20% of Tanzanians are on the electrical grid.[1] The electrical supply varies, particularly when droughts disrupt hydropower electric generation; rolling blackouts are implemented as necessary.[1] Nearly a quarter of electricity generated is lost because of poor transmission infrastructure.[1] The unreliability of the electrical supply has hindered the development of Tanzanian industry.[1]

Dar Es Salaam is a key area in the supply chain of petroleum across Tanzania and as an emerging industrial zone, the port attracts major international companies.[3] A major supplier of petroleum in the region is Dalbit Petroleum who rely on the port as part of their operations and have developed a well-organized supply chain through the port since the company’s regional inception in 2007.[4]

Renewable energy

Tanzania has a large untapped renewable energy potential. Of the country’s total generation capacity, only 4.9% comes from renewable energy sources.[5] Potential hydropower capacity is at 4,700 MW. Installed hydropower stood at 561 MW as of 2014.[6] Tanzania aims to increase its hydropower capacity to 2,091 MW by 2025.[6]

Tanzania also aims to generate 100 MW of electricity from wind by 2025.[7] The Mwenga wind energy project, the first wind farm to be built in Tanzania, was completed in 2020 with an initial capacity of 2.4 MW.[7]

Solar power is widely used in rural areas, with 65% of rural households having access to solar energy sources.[8]

See also

References
  1. Lake, Joseph. "Economy". In Frame, Iain, ed. (2013). Africa South of the Sahara 2014. Routledge. p. 51. ISBN 978-1857436983. OCLC 1087495.
  2. Agency, Ecofin. "Tanzania aiming to become an energy exporter by 2018".
  3. "Energy & Petroleum | MeTL". www.metl.net. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  4. "Dalbit Petroleum Tanzania | About Us". www.dalbitpetroleum.com. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  5. Renewable Energy in Africa: Tanzania Country Profile (PDF). Côte d’Ivoire: African Development Bank. 2015.
  6. Renewables Readiness Assessment: United Republic of Tanzania (PDF). Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency. 2017. ISBN 978-92-9260-020-4.
  7. Macola, Ilaria Grasso (2020-06-22). "A look at Tanzania's first wind farm". Power Technology | Energy News and Market Analysis. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  8. Bungane, Babalwa (2017-04-27). "Solar power dominates rural Tanzania, says report". ESI-Africa.com. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
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