The government is working with the African Energy Commission (AFREC) to identify and address electricity losses in distribution networks, in a move aimed at improving power supply efficiency, reducing costs and strengthening energy security.
The Ministry of Energy, in collaboration with AFREC, has conducted a week-long technical assessment of selected electricity distribution systems in Dodoma to establish the causes of power losses and develop targeted interventions to minimise them.
The exercise is part of the Efficiency First: Powering Africa’s Sustainable Development (2024–2028) project, funded by the Kingdom of Denmark and implemented in collaboration with AFREC to promote energy efficiency and sustainable development across Africa.
More than 60 engineers and technicians from the Ministry of Energy, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) and Powerhut participated in the assessment.
The team collected technical and operational data expected to inform investment decisions and guide the implementation of measures to improve the performance of electricity distribution networks.
Speaking during a review meeting in Dodoma, Assistant Commissioner for Electricity at the Ministry of Energy, Engineer Christopher Bitesigirwe, said the government was implementing measures to improve energy efficiency, including reducing electricity losses across distribution systems.
He said the initiatives were guided by the National Energy Efficiency Strategy 2024–2034, which seeks, among other objectives, to establish minimum energy performance standards for equipment, minimise energy losses and strengthen the management of energy consumption.
“Tanzania recognises energy efficiency as a strategic pillar for strengthening energy security, driving sustainable economic growth and building a more resilient and competitive energy sector,” Engineer Bitesigirwe said.
He added that improving energy efficiency would help the country derive greater value from its energy resources, reduce costs and support sustainable development.
Engineer Bitesigirwe also reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to working with regional and continental partners to advance Africa’s energy agenda, including implementing strategic measures agreed upon by African heads of state and government in 2025 to promote clean cooking energy.
For his part, AFREC Senior Policy Officer Engineer Nickson Bukachi, speaking on behalf of the commission’s Executive Director, said reducing electricity losses in transmission and distribution networks was critical to expanding access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.
He noted that electricity losses remained a challenge in many African countries, highlighting the need for greater investment in efficient power infrastructure and improved system management.
“Every unit of electricity lost represents a missed opportunity to light a home or hospital, support a business or drive economic growth. Reducing these losses is therefore not merely a technical priority, but an essential economic and development imperative,” Engineer Bukachi said.
He said the initiative was also aligned with the African Energy Efficiency Strategy and Action Plan (AfEES), adopted by African Union energy ministers in 2025.
The plan seeks to improve energy productivity across Africa by 12 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2050.
The findings from the Dodoma assessment are expected to provide a technical basis for identifying priority investments and implementing targeted interventions to reduce electricity losses.
Improving the efficiency of distribution networks could help utilities make better use of available power, while supporting efforts to deliver more reliable electricity to households, businesses and industries.
The initiative also reflects broader efforts to strengthen energy efficiency as African countries seek to expand electricity access, support industrialisation and meet growing demand for reliable and affordable power.