Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has intensified its appeal to global investors in geothermal energy as the country advances plans to harness its vast geothermal potential for affordable and sustainable power generation.
Speaking during the annual meeting of the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA), convened under the auspices of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi, the minister for Energy, Mr Deogratius Ndejembi, said the government was actively strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks to provide greater certainty for investors in the geothermal subsector.
He noted that Tanzania was also streamlining licensing and permitting processes while improving access to geothermal data to reduce entry barriers for prospective developers.
“Tanzania’s abundant geothermal resources present a strategic opportunity to expand electricity generation in a manner that supports both national development priorities and global commitments towards clean energy transition,” Mr Ndejembi told the forum.
He said geothermal energy remained central to the country’s vision of delivering reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable power to its citizens.
He explained that geothermal power development has been firmly embedded within key national and international policy instruments, including Tanzania Development Vision 2050, the National Energy Policy of 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the global climate change framework.
Through the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC), the government is currently advancing several priority geothermal prospects across the country.
These include the Ngozi field with an estimated capacity of 70 megawatts, Songwe with a potential ranging between 5 and 38 megawatts, Kiejo-Mbaka estimated at 60 megawatts, Natron at 60 megawatts, and Luhoi with an initial capacity of 5 megawatts.
“The overarching objective is to commission the country’s first geothermal power plant with a total capacity of 130 megawatts by 2030, starting with an initial phase of 30 megawatts,” he noted.
While reiterating Tanzania’s readiness to partner with private investors, Mr Ndejembi acknowledged that geothermal development remains capital-intensive, particularly during the early stages of exploration.
He said access to concessional financing, coupled with enhanced collaboration with international organisations and the private sector, would be critical in addressing the high upfront costs associated with resource assessment and drilling.
The minister further said Tanzania welcomes cooperation with countries that have made significant strides in geothermal development, particularly in the training and capacity building of local experts in geothermal science and engineering.
He noted that Tanzania’s location along the Great Rift Valley has endowed the country with substantial geothermal resources, with an estimated generation potential of up to 5,000 megawatts. Currently, 52 sites with geothermal indications have been identified across 16 regions.
Opening the meeting, IRENA deputy director general Ms Gauri Singh described geothermal energy as a vital pillar of global energy security, while observing that its contribution to global electricity generation remains relatively modest.
She called for the accelerated development of geothermal resources worldwide to fully realise their potential.
The Tanzanian delegation to the IRENA meeting included the Acting Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Mr Bakari Ameir, the Assistant Commissioner for Renewable Energy, Mr Imani Mruma, and other officials from the Ministry of Energy.
