Electricity in Tanzania in 2023
In 2023, Tanzania's electricity consumption heavily relies on fossil energy sources, primarily gas, which together account for more than half of the country's total generation, with both fossil and gas contributing approximately 8 TWh each. In contrast, low-carbon electricity sources, represented mainly by hydropower, are considerably less utilized, contributing just over 2.5 TWh. This means that low-carbon electricity makes up only about 20% of the total electricity generation. When compared to the global average of 3813 watts per person, Tanzania lags significantly behind, highlighting a pressing need for increased clean electricity generation. The current low levels of electricity generation can have dire consequences, hampering economic growth, limiting access to technology and education, and resulting in continued environmental and health impacts due to reliance on fossil fuels.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation, Tanzania should look to strategies successfully employed by other countries. For instance, India's substantial strides in solar energy, contributing 134 TWh, offer valuable lessons in capitalizing on abundant sunlight, akin to Tanzania's climate. Furthermore, Brazil's impressive utilization of wind energy, at over 100 TWh, demonstrates the potential of wind power in regions with open landscapes similar to Tanzania's. Collaborating with these countries could provide valuable insights and strategies in deploying large-scale wind and solar projects. Additionally, embracing nuclear energy, as seen in nations like France, where it constitutes a significant part of their energy mix, could provide a stable and continuous supply of clean energy for Tanzania.
History
Looking back at the history of low-carbon electricity in Tanzania, hydropower has been the predominant contributor, though it has experienced fluctuations over the years. Notably, during the late 1980s and 1990s, small incremental growth was followed by a few setbacks. In the early 2000s, we saw a mixture of increases and declines, with notable growth in 2007. The subsequent decade was marked by sporadic changes, with significant positive growth in 2014 and 2020. This historical perspective underscores the potential of hydropower while also highlighting the volatility of relying heavily on this single low-carbon source. There is an evident need for diversification into more stable and abundant low-carbon options, such as solar, wind, and nuclear, to ensure a sustainable and reliable electricity future for Tanzania.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.