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Electricity in Tanzania in 2021

Global Ranking: #158
44.0% #74 Low-carbon electricity
14.88 watts #193 Generation / person
348.81 gCO2eq/kWh #79 Carbon Intensity

In 2021, electricity consumption in Tanzania was predominantly powered by fossil and low-carbon energy sources. About 4.5 TWh of electricity was generated from fossil fuels, predominantly from gas which accounted for almost half of the fossil energy at 2 TWh. Meanwhile, low-carbon energy generation was slightly lower at around 3.7 TWh, the vast majority of which was generated by hydroelectric facilities contributing almost all the low-carbon energy at 3 TWh. These figures signify that Tanzania's per capita consumption is significantly lower than the global average of 410 watts per person. This low level of electricity generation has significant implications on the Tanzanian economy and lifestyle, as it may hinder industrial development, affect quality of life, and limit Tanzania's efforts to combat climate change.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Tanzania can learn several lessons from successful countries in this field. Brazil, a country with a similar climate and topography, successfully generated 94 TWh from wind and 49 TWh from solar energy. These figures suggest that Tanzania could potentially increase its low-carbon energy generation by investing in wind and solar energy technologies. The success of low-carbon energy generation in these countries suggests Tanzania could significantly increase its low-carbon energy supply by investing in these technologies and learning from their experiences through collaborations and partnerships.

History

Looking at the history of low-carbon energy generation in Tanzania, hydroelectricity has played a significant role since the late 20th century. The 1990s brought moderate growth in hydroelectric generation from 0.2 TWh in 1989 to 0.6 TWh in 1998, despite a few years of decline in the middle. After a decade of fluctuation in the early 2000s, Tanzania experienced a high increase recording 1.1 TWh in 2007. The rollercoaster trends continued through the 2010s, with a surge to 0.9 TWh in 2014, followed by a drop and a subsequent ripple of increase towards the end of the decade. Meanwhile, biofuels emerged as an additional source of low-carbon power in the 21st century, contributing a smaller but growing share of 0.2 TWh in 2000, and rising to 0.5 TWh by 2018. While strides have been made, these figures suggest that Tanzania could greatly contribute to the mitigation of global climate change issues by further increasing its commitment to low-carbon energy production.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources

For the years 1980 to 1992 the data source is EIA.
For the years 1993 to 1999 the data source is IEA.
For the years 2000 to 2002 the data source is Ember.
For the years 2003 to 2017 the data source is IEA.
For the years 2018 to 2021 the data source is Ember.
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