Tanzania is aiming to integrate geothermal energy into its national grid by 2030 to provide reliable electricity from renewable sources.
This goal is part of the country’s Vision 2025, which focuses on sustainable energy as a key driver of economic growth.
Felchesmi Mramba, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, discussed this ambition at the International Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) conference in Bridgetown, Barbados.
He stated, “Our goal is to ensure that every Tanzanian has access to electricity by 2030 while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
This vision is guided by the Tanzania National Energy Policy of 2015, the National Energy Master Plan 2020, and the ‘Mission 300’ declaration from the 2025 African Heads of State Energy Summit.”
Mramba also emphasized that 16 regions in Tanzania will benefit from the development of geothermal energy, which is a central part of the country’s sustainable energy strategy.
“Geothermal energy is a key component of our national energy strategy. To drive this forward, the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) has been established to explore and develop our geothermal resources,” he said.
The TGDC is already working in over 50 locations to harness the potential of geothermal energy.
To encourage investment in the sector, the government has introduced strong policies and regulations. “The government has put in place a solid policy and regulatory framework to attract global investors who can help us unlock the full potential of our geothermal resources,” Mramba added.
Konris Maynard, the Minister of Energy for St. Kitts and Nevis, also spoke at the conference, urging countries to embrace geothermal energy and move away from environmentally harmful energy sources.
“It’s time for all nations to recognize the importance of geothermal energy and make the shift to cleaner, safer sources of power,” he said.
Tanzania is fortunate to have significant geothermal potential, estimated at over 5,000 MW of electricity and 15,000 MW of thermal energy.
The country’s location in the East African Rift System (EARS) makes it ideally positioned to tap into this renewable resource.
