Tanzania Leading and expected to lead in attaining reliable clean energy to power the economy
By JAMES KAMALA.
In the times of increasing power demand to drive increasing population growth with goes in hand with industrialization, Tanzania seems to will successfully navigate environmental pollution by investing in renewable electricity production.
Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. Also SDG target 3.9. 1, calls for a substantial reduction in deaths and illnesses from air pollution.
This is will be evident as the East African nation keeps on investing in building electricity in clean energy sources than using fossil fuel sources and other which have detrimental effects when it comes to environmental conservation efforts.
In the wake on industrialization and the anticipated to changes by adopting electrical vehicles which all demands power, Tanzania may therefore become main electricity exporter in East African Community (EAC) Member states and to Southern African Development Community (SADC) members.
The ambitious project of Julius Nyerere hydropower Project Plant (JNHPP) is considered a game changer by injecting a maximum of 2,100 MW in the Tanzanian electricity production. JNHPP which is under construction, has its two turbines with an installed capacity of 235 MW each were commissioned in March and April this year, raising the total installed capacity to 2,408 MW.
JNHPP which is largest Hydroelectric power (HEP) in all EAC member states, comes at the time which the country’s peak demand was recorded in August 2023 at 1,482.80 MW. The ministry of energy’s permanent Secretary Eng. Felchesim Mramba encouraged Tanzanians to expand their investments in sectors requiring electricity, emphasizing that supply is currently reliable and sufficient.
On the other hand, Tanzania is blessed with diverse energy sources including biomass, natural gas, hydro, coal, geothermal, solar, wind, and uranium, many of which remain untapped. If tapped, it means more attraction to foreign direct investment which will grow its economy in various sectors.
Engineer Mramba also highlighted other Projects which are currently at different stages of construction including the Kishapu solar power project (150 MW), wind power projects in Singida and Makambako (300 to 400 MW),. Also Malagarasi Hydropower Project (49.5 MW), Kakono Hydropower Project (87 MW), Songwe Dam and Hydropower Plant (180.2 MW), Rumakali Hydropower Project (222 MW), and Ruhudji Hydropower Project (358 MW).
An Electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Started its operations last month between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro region, it will later this month extend its maiden journey between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma regions through Morogoro, in this period, no power challenges has been reported so far. This can be translated as sustainable mobility of passengers and cargo through environmental friendly modes and hence, averting climatic change effects.
