DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania has opened a new chapter in its drive to expand energy generation, attract private capital and accelerate the transition towards a more diversified and sustainable energy system, as investors, technology companies and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond converge in Dar es Salaam for the 10th Power & Energy Tanzania 2026.
The three-day exhibition, which officially opened today at the Diamond Jubilee Expo Centre, has brought together energy companies, investors, technology providers, buyers, engineers and other industry stakeholders, turning Dar es Salaam into a meeting point for discussions on the future of energy, investment and industrial development.
At the heart of the opening was a clear message from the Government that Tanzania’s ambitions in the energy sector cannot be achieved by the public sector alone. Speaking at the event, Minister for Energy, Hon. Juma Homera, said the private sector must become an increasingly important partner in implementing the country’s development agenda, particularly through investment, infrastructure development and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The Minister said the Government is working to improve the legal and regulatory environment and reduce barriers that could discourage investors from participating in major PPP projects. Rather than positioning the Government and private sector as competitors, he said Tanzania wants a new model based on partnership, investment and shared development objectives.
The message comes as Tanzania seeks to expand electricity generation and access while creating sufficient energy capacity to support industrialisation, manufacturing, commercial activity and emerging technologies. Homera said the country is pursuing a diversified energy strategy that includes hydropower, natural gas, coal, solar and wind, while placing increasing emphasis on renewable energy as part of the country's long-term development trajectory.
The Government is also opening another frontier in the energy market through electric mobility. Homera called for greater private-sector investment in electric-vehicle charging stations, electric vehicles and related infrastructure, signalling an emerging investment market that could reshape the relationship between Tanzania’s transport and energy sectors.
He said the Government would continue working with investors, contractors, financial institutions and technology companies to accelerate the implementation of energy projects.
For Duncan Njage, Regional Director, East Africa at ExpoGroup, the exhibition is ultimately about converting ideas and connections into business. “Let us connect, let us exchange knowledge, let us build partnerships and, most importantly, let us do business,” Njage told participants, stressing that the platform is designed to connect exhibitors with customers, investors and new markets.
Njage said ExpoGroup was proud to contribute to Tanzania’s growing position as a regional hub for trade, technology and investment, describing the exhibition as a platform where companies can introduce technologies, meet potential customers, develop partnerships and enter new markets.
He said the 10th edition comes at a critical moment when energy is becoming increasingly central to economic growth, industrialisation and investment across Tanzania and the wider East African region.
Meanwhile, Tanzania Energy Association Chairman George Michael said Tanzania must make full use of its energy resources if the country is to meet its development ambitions. He pointed to solar, wind, hydropower, biomass and geothermal resources as part of the country's wider energy potential, arguing that Tanzania's future economic growth will require a broader and more diversified energy base.
Michael said the country still has significant room to expand electricity consumption and that investment in generation, transmission, distribution and productive use of electricity will be essential to unlocking economic opportunities.
He described the exhibition as an important bridge between technology and market demand, giving investors and industry players an opportunity to explore engineering solutions, technology transfer, capacity building and new investment opportunities.
“Energy is increasingly becoming a critical driver of economic development,” Michael said, underscoring the need for an energy system capable of supporting a stronger and more sustainable economy.
The exhibition also reflects a much larger global transformation taking place across the energy sector. From solar and wind to energy storage, electric mobility and smart power systems, countries are increasingly searching for ways to expand energy access while building systems capable of supporting economic growth and responding to the demands of a changing global energy landscape.
For Tanzania, the challenge is particularly significant. A growing population, expanding cities, industrial development, new infrastructure projects and increasing electricity demand are creating pressure for more reliable and affordable energy.
That pressure, however, is also creating an expanding investment market for companies with the capital, technology and expertise required to participate in the country's energy transformation.
The 10th Power & Energy Tanzania therefore arrives not simply as another industry exhibition, but as a platform where Tanzania’s energy ambitions meet international capital, technology and expertise. With investors, manufacturers, engineers, policymakers and buyers gathered in Dar es Salaam, the bigger question is how quickly investment, technology and partnerships can transform the country's energy potential into the power required to drive its next phase of economic development.
The exhibition continues through October 9, 2026, at the Diamond Jubilee Expo Centre in Dar es Salaam.