Dodoma— Tanzania’s Minister of State in the President's Office for Public Service Management and Good Governance, George Simbachawene, has called on the Ministry of Energy to create a more conducive regulatory environment to accelerate private-sector investment in rural fuel stations.
Speaking during a visit to the Ministry of Energy’s exhibition pavilion at the national Public Service Week celebrations in Dodoma, Simbachawene emphasized the urgent need to bridge the infrastructure gap in underserved regions.
“There is strong investor interest in establishing fuel stations in rural areas due to the significant service gap. However, regulatory and investment conditions must be evaluated to ensure they do not become bottlenecks to this critical service,” he said.
Fuel accessibility in rural Tanzania remains limited, with many communities relying on informal or distant fuel sources posing logistical, economic, and environmental challenges.
Simbachawene's remarks signal growing political will to prioritize rural energy access as part of the country’s broader development agenda.
He also urged the Ministry to accelerate the rollout of clean cooking energy solutions in rural households and promote greater investment in alternative energy technologies.
The minister commended the Ministry of Energy and its affiliated institutions for their continued efforts in expanding energy access and modernizing infrastructure across the country.
Tanzania’s energy strategy aims to balance fossil fuel investments with cleaner, more sustainable energy options in alignment with national development goals and global climate commitments.