By The Respondent Reporter
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has unveiled the far-reaching strides made in Tanzania’s energy sector over the past five years, highlighting a sharp rise in electricity access, a significant increase in generation capacity, and the completion of major national grid projects that are powering the country’s development agenda.
Speaking during her address to close the 12th Parliament in Dodoma on Friday, President Samia said the government’s strategic investments in energy have laid a strong foundation for industrialization, rural electrification, and future growth.
“Because of the critical role that energy plays in national development, the government has completed transformative projects such as the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project and expanded electricity access to every village in Tanzania Mainland,” said the President.
Tanzania’s power generation capacity has grown from 1,601.84 megawatts in 2020 to 4,031.71 megawatts in 2025, a 151 percent increase.
The President attributed the rise to key projects including the 2,115 MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (JNHPP), the Kinyerezi I Extension (185 MW), and the Rusumo Hydropower Project, which Tanzania co-developed with Rwanda and Burundi.
The transmission network has also expanded through new lines from Singida to Arusha, Geita to Nyakanazi, Nyerere to Chalinze, Nyakanazi to Kigoma, and other corridors, including a strategic line to supply power to the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
“These projects have enhanced power reliability and helped address long-standing electricity gaps across many regions,” she said.
President Samia proudly declared that all 12,318 villages in mainland Tanzania now have access to electricity—an achievement that places the country among the few in Africa to reach universal village electrification.
She also reported that 33,657 sub-villages, equivalent to 52.3 percent of all 64,359 sub-villages, have been connected to electricity, with ongoing efforts aimed at bridging the remaining access gap.
Among the historic milestones, the Head of State emphasized the successful connection of Kigoma and Katavi regions to the national grid for the first time a step that promises to unlock economic potential in Tanzania’s western corridor.
President Samia used the occasion to chart a bold path for future energy development. She directed TANESCO’s Managing Director to begin exploring the use of nuclear power as a long-term, clean, and stable energy source.
“We must now start thinking about nuclear energy as part of our strategy for reliable and sustainable power generation,” she said.
As part of her forward-looking vision, the President announced that the government intends to open up the energy sector to greater private investment, especially in electricity generation.
This move is expected to introduce competition, expand generation capacity, and support the government’s long-term goals of reliable and affordable energy for all.
President Samia said the achievements in energy reflect her administration’s broader goal to build an inclusive and industrializing Tanzania, where energy access drives jobs, productivity, and regional equity.
“Our energy investments are not just about numbers. They are about lives improved, businesses enabled, and regions empowered,” she said.
With electricity now reaching the remotest parts of the country and a new policy direction focused on sustainability and private-sector engagement, Tanzania is positioning itself as a regional energy success story and a future hub of green industrial growth.
