The Managing Director of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), Mr. Lazaro Twange, today paid a working visit to the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC), a wholly owned subsidiary of TANESCO, as part of efforts to familiarize himself with institutions under his leadership.
Addressing the Board of Directors, management, and staff at TGDC headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Mr. Twange expressed deep appreciation for the visionaries who pioneered the idea that led to the establishment of TGDC in 2013.
The company was created to spearhead the development of geothermal energy resources in Tanzania for electricity generation.
“I am grateful to the President for entrusting me with this responsibility to serve at TANESCO, and I commend all those who turned this vision into reality from the founding stage to where TGDC stands today,” said Mr. Twange.
“I also applaud the Board and staff for the excellent progress made. But let me emphasize this Tanzanians want to see geothermal electricity. It is up to us to make it happen.”he added
He added, “It would be an honor to be part of the historic moment when Tanzania successfully generates geothermal power. I am ready to collaborate with each of you, and I’m pleased to see that much of this work has been done by our own local experts. What people want is not just plans they want results. And that result is power from geothermal sources.”
TGDC Board Chairperson, Professor Shubi Kaijage, warmly welcomed Mr. Twange and congratulated him on his appointment.
He also thanked him for taking the time to visit and meet with staff, assuring him that the guidance provided would be fully implemented. He reiterated the Board’s commitment to overseeing the company’s activities to ensure visible results.
Giving an overview of the company’s operations, TGDC’s General Manager, Engineer Mathew Mwangomba, said that geothermal power holds the potential to significantly transform Tanzania’s energy landscape by diversifying electricity sources and ensuring greater reliability.
“We believe that once geothermal power is harnessed, Tanzania will take a big leap forward in addressing power supply challenges,” said Eng. Mwangomba.
“In the near term, we expect to start drilling confirmation wells at the Ngozi Geothermal Project site, marking a major milestone toward power generation.”he added
He noted that geothermal development requires substantial investment and advanced technology. For that reason, TGDC continues to seek strong support and collaboration from leadership, including the TANESCO MD.
“At TGDC, we say that each staff member owes the country one megawatt meaning everyone must contribute to achieving our national energy goals,” he said. “I can assure you that our team is motivated and ready to deliver.”
TGDC is a government-owned company under TANESCO, established on December 19, 2013, and became operational on July 1, 2014. Its mandate is to conduct research, development, and management of geothermal energy projects in Tanzania.
To date, TGDC has identified around 52 promising geothermal sites across 16 mainland regions, with a combined estimated potential of up to 5,000 megawatts of electricity and 15,000 megawatts of thermal energy for other uses.