By The respondent reporter
Dar
es Salaam – Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Energy Dr. James Mataragio, emphasized the importance of accelerating
geothermal resource development in Africa as one of the key goals of the 10th
African Rift Geothermal Conference (ARGeo-C10), currently being held in
Tanzania.
Speaking
at the closing ceremony of a geothermal training session for participants of
the ongoing conference, Dr. Mataragio underscored the potential of geothermal
energy to be utilized not only for electricity generation but also in various
sectors, including agriculture and livestock farming.
"Tanzania
has identified numerous areas with geothermal potential, and the Tanzania
Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) is conducting research in several
locations, such as Songwe, Kiejo-Mbaka, and Ngozi," he stated.
Dr.
Mataragio also highlighted the global importance of shifting to cleaner energy
sources to combat carbon emissions. He noted that geothermal energy aligns with
global goals for reducing carbon footprints, as it is a clean and sustainable
energy source.
The
training provided at the ARGeo-C10 conference included topics such as
geothermal reservoir development, emerging technologies, direct use of
geothermal energy in various industries like agriculture and fish farming, and
the impact of carbon markets.
"We
are building capacity among young Tanzanians through these trainings to develop
our geothermal resources with the help of specialized experts in the
field," he added.
Countries
participating in the training included Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia,
Nigeria, Cameroon, and New Zealand. Dr. Mataragio said Tanzania benefited from
the experience of other nations that have made significant advancements in
geothermal energy development.
Speaking
on behalf of the training graduates, Mr. Agnelli Kafuwe from Zambia said the
skills acquired would enhance the management of geothermal energy. He noted
that geothermal is not just about electricity and urged African countries to
prioritize its direct applications to improve livelihoods, particularly in
agriculture.
Mr.
Kafuwe called for greater collaboration among African nations to advance
geothermal energy development, echoing the principles of unity and
self-reliance championed by Tanzania's founding president, Julius Nyerere.