Africa-Press – Tanzania. IN efforts to diversify the country’s electricity mix to power its growing economy, the government has set aside 5bn/- to execute geothermal projects, including Kiejo-Mbaka project in Mbeya which is expected to generate 200MW by 2025.
Previously, the country depended on hydropower as the main source, but due to climate change effects and increased demand, the government has ventured on other sources, including gas, wind and geothermal.
This was revealed by Energy Minister January Makamba when he was inspecting Kiejo-Mbaka Geothermal project located at Iramba Village in Ntaba Ward of Rungwe District in Mbeya Region, where he insisted that the country is determined to have multiple sources of energy capable of sustaining current and future needs.
“The government has decided to invest on multiple sources of energy, including water and gas…this time we have invested in Kiejo-Mbaka geothermal project,” Mr Makamba said.
The Minister said in the 2022/23 budget, the state set aside a total of 5bn/- to develop geothermal projects and already a machine to excavate a 3km underground road at Kiejo-Mbaka site has been procured.
He said by 2025, the Mbaka-Kiejo project will generate a total of 200MW which will be connected to the national grid.
Available information shows that Tanzania has more than 50 sites that have the potential to generate 5,000MW.
The said sites are spread across 15 regions, namely Mbeya, Arusha, Dodoma, Iringa, Coast, Kilimanjaro, Kagera, Katavi, Shinyanga, Morogoro, Mtwara, Manyara, Rukwa, Singida, Songwe and Tanga.
Earlier, the minister toured an avocado processing plant KUZA AFRIKA industry in Rungwe and said the state-of-the-art plant reflects the government’s plan to electrify the villages.
On his part, Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) Rungwe District Manager, Eng Mukhsin Kijemkuu said the installation of a transformer boosted production of the industry from 2,000ltrs to 4,000ltrs per day.
The investor, according to the manager, is now saving a total of 20m/- from energy only, thanks to affordable energy from TANESCO.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
