- Tanzania intends to generate 200 MWe of geothermal energy by 2025
- The TGDC has already commenced development at the Ngozi site.
- The government is also hoping to attract private investors to the geothermal energy sector via public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Tanzania’s state-owned Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) wants to harness more of its geothermal potential. Tanzania has an estimated geothermal potential of 5,000 MWe. The TGDC intends to generate 200 MWe of geothermal energy by 2025. The energy generated will be injected into the electricity grid.
Tanzania has been looking to diversify its energy mix in recent years. The country which is mainly dependent on hydropower has seen its energy production hampered by increasing drought. The plan will consist of the harnessing of geothermal energy at several sites in Tanzania, including Ngozi in the Mbeya and Songwe regions, Kiejo-Mbaka in the Mbeya region, Natron in the Arusha region and Luhoi.
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The TGDC has already commenced development at the Ngozi site. This site will allow for the generation of 600 MWe over several phases. However, the development of this capacity will require an investment of $821 million. The Tanzanian government has already allocated $8.7 million to the project; thus, these funds have been used to purchase drilling rigs for site well development. The government is also hoping to attract private investors to the geothermal energy sector via public-private partnerships (PPPs).
This plan is one of the country’s ambitious plans to achieve universal access to energy. The government is also constructing a 2115MW hydropower dam to this effect.