In 2023, Tanzania’s electricity consumption reflects a notable reliance on fossil fuels, with more than half of the electricity generated being derived from such sources. Specifically, fossil energy and gas together accounted for approximately 16 TWh of the total consumption, while low-carbon energy sources such as hydropower contribute almost 3 TWh. Low-carbon, clean energy therefore makes up a noticeably smaller fraction of the country's electricity. Comparing this to the global average, the electricity consumption in Tanzania is significantly lower, around 167 kWh per person, which falls well below the global average of 3781 kWh per person. Such low levels of electricity generation can hinder socioeconomic development and restrict access to modern conveniences and infrastructure improvements, potentially slowing progress in education, healthcare, and industry.
Is Electricity Growing in Tanzania?
Electricity consumption in Tanzania is indeed growing, with an increase from the previous record of 151 kWh per person in 2022 to 167 kWh per person in 2023. This represents a positive development, although the increase of 16 kWh per person reflects modest progress. Particularly concerning is the reduction in low-carbon electricity generation from its previous high of 76 kWh per person in 2002 to the current level of 42 kWh per person, demonstrating a decrease of 34 kWh per person. This decline in clean energy generation could be a major hurdle for sustainable growth and combating climate change, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to expand low-carbon infrastructure.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Tanzania can learn from various regions that have successfully harnessed their clean energy potential. Solar and wind energy, as demonstrated by regions like the People's Republic of China and the United States, can significantly contribute to electricity generation, with the former generating substantial amounts through both solar (890 TWh) and wind (1093 TWh), and the latter leading in sectors like nuclear (781 TWh) and wind (461 TWh). Regions similar to Tanzania, such as India where solar and wind respectively contribute 150 TWh and 94 TWh, illustrate the feasibility of expanding solar and wind energy. Tanzania could also look to countries with significant nuclear energy production, like France, which generates 363 TWh from nuclear power. Developing a robust infrastructure for solar, wind, and nuclear energy in Tanzania could help increase the contribution of low-carbon electricity and prompt a broader adoption in energy policies.
History
Historically, Tanzania's journey with low-carbon electricity generation has been marked by fluctuations primarily in hydroelectric power. In the early years, particularly the 1990s, there were small increments of around 0.2 TWh in 1989 and 1991, interspersed with declines such as a decrease of 0.2 TWh in 1994 and 0.3 TWh in 1997. More substantial developments were seen in the late 2000s, particularly in 2007, with an increase of 1.1 TWh. Moving into the 2010s, hydroelectric generation fluctuated, with decreases like the 0.7 TWh fall in 2011, but some recovery was shown by 2014 with a rise of 0.9 TWh. Unfortunately, recent years have seen inconsistent growth, with moments of boost punctuated by falls, like the 0.3 TWh reduction in 2022. The fluctuating nature underscores the need for a more stable and diversified strategy in low-carbon electricity generation.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.