In 2023, Tanzania's electricity consumption shows a marked preference for fossil energy, with fossil and gas sources together contributing more than three-quarters of the total generation. Specifically, fossil energy accounts for 8.18 TWh and natural gas closely follows at 8.12 TWh. Low-carbon energy sources lag significantly behind, generating just 2.8 TWh, with hydropower making up most of this amount. Compared to the global average electricity consumption of 3781 kWh per person, Tanzania's per-person consumption stands at a mere 167 kWh, indicating a severe shortfall. Such low levels of electricity generation can hinder economic growth, limit the quality of life, and restrict access to critical services such as healthcare and education, which rely on stable electrical supply.
Is Electricity Growing in Tanzania?
Analyzing the growth in electricity consumption in Tanzania reveals some progress, with an increase from 151 kWh per person in 2022 to 167 kWh per person in 2023, marking a gain of 16 kWh per person. However, when it comes to low-carbon electricity generation, the scenario is less optimistic. Though Tanzania has managed to produce 42 kWh of low-carbon electricity per person recently, this reflects a decline from a previous high of 76 kWh per person in 2002. This decrease of 34 kWh per person in sustainable energy generation over the years is a discouraging trend, calling for urgent action to increase low-carbon energy sources to support greener growth.
Suggestions
To augment low-carbon electricity generation, Tanzania can take cues from regions with advanced energy strategies. Solar and wind energy offer promising avenues. For instance, Brazil's success in wind energy generation at 108 TWh and India's solar production of 134 TWh demonstrate the feasibility and potential of these sources. Furthermore, incorporating nuclear energy can yield significant benefits, as evidenced by the United States generating 782 TWh and France producing 379 TWh of nuclear energy. These examples encourage Tanzania to consider expanding its infrastructure for solar and wind energy while exploring nuclear energy as a reliable and clean alternative to fossil fuels. By doing so, Tanzania will not only boost its electricity supply but also ensure a cleaner future for its citizens.
History
Throughout the history of Tanzania's low-carbon energy production, fluctuations have been predominantly centered around hydropower. In the early 1990s, there were slight increases with a few years such as 1989 and 1991 seeing rises of 0.2 TWh. However, the mid-1990s to the early 2000s showed mixed results, with decreases in 1994 and 1997 offsetting gains in 1996 and 1998. The period from 2003 to 2007 was characterized by decline followed by a sharp increase of 1.1 TWh in 2007. More recent years have seen variability as well, with reductions in 2011 and 2015, yet moderate growth in years like 2014 and 2020. This pattern highlights both the potential and challenge in relying heavily on hydropower and underscores the importance of diversification in low-carbon energy strategies.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.