As of 2023, Tanzania's electricity consumption paints a picture of a nation heavily dependent on fossil fuels with its fossil energy sources like gas contributing around 8 TWh, more than half of the total electricity generation. The clean, low-carbon energy sector contributes about 3 TWh, with hydropower making up nearly all of this amount. Overall, Tanzania's electricity consumption is quite low, at just about 167 kWh per person, starkly below the global average of 3649 kWh per person. This significant disparity signals pressing challenges for Tanzania, as low electricity generation can impede economic growth, hinder technological advancement, and slow the electrification process vital for sustainable development.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Tanzania?
Looking at the historical data, electricity consumption in Tanzania has seen a modest growth recently, with the latest record showing an increase from 151 kWh per person in 2022 to 167 kWh per person in 2023. This rise indicates a positive trend, though it's imperative to accelerate this growth. However, the situation with low-carbon electricity is less optimistic. The latest generation of 42 kWh per person is considerably lesser than the historic record of 75 kWh per person set in 2002. This decrease is alarming as it highlights a drop in the focus and utilization of clean energy sources, making a shift towards expanding low-carbon electricity generation more crucial than ever.
Suggestions
To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Tanzania should learn from several industry leaders in solar and nuclear energy. For instance, China has made remarkable progress with solar energy, generating 1114 TWh, and wind energy at 1093 TWh. On the nuclear front, countries like the United States and France have demonstrated the potential of nuclear energy as a reliable, clean power source, contributing 778 TWh and 371 TWh respectively. Emulating these strategies, Tanzania can prioritize investments in solar technology given its favorable climatic conditions and explore the potential of nuclear energy to create a diverse and resilient electricity generation portfolio.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Tanzania reflects a fluctuating yet pivotal journey, primarily revolving around hydropower developments over the decades. In the early 1990s, there were small increments in hydropower, but fluctuations persisted with minor decreases in the mid-1990s. The late 1990s culminated in a significant increase, while the early 2000s experienced consistent declines attributed possibly to unfavorable hydrological conditions or infrastructural challenges. However, the late 2000s and early 2010s marked a notable rebound with substantial increases. The subsequent years have witnessed variability, underscoring the need for diversifying Tanzania's energy mix with more robust and varied low-carbon technologies like solar and nuclear energies to ensure stable and sustainable electricity growth moving forward.
