News

Tanzania hopeful on utilising its geothermal potential

Tanzania hopeful on utilising its geothermal potential Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (source: flickr/ Ali Damji, creative commons)
Francisco Rojas 31 Oct 2014

With overall surge in geothermal activities in East Africa, Tanzania could develop its geothermal resources to help fuel increasing electricity demand.

At the currently ongoing African Rift Geothermal Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, the country’s Vice President Dr. Mohamed Gharib Bilal stated a potential of 5,000 MW for Tanzania. While this might be a bit overly ambitious, and many voices at the conference are more cautious about the country’s potential, the country clearly has a big opportunity at hand.

Local news state that “Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Stephene Masele, said Tanzania is focusing to boost its energy production to reach an amazing 10,000 megawatts load by the year 2025 when, if all goes well, the country stands to develop into a major industrial area due to its power pool.”

“Industrial development is all about the availability of abundance and sustainable energy something which Tanzania is soon going to become once we tap all the potential renewable energy,” said Mr Masele.

This also has a great impact on the environment, since vast amounts of forest are being cut down to provide charcoal and firewood for the local population.

By developing geothermal, two birds can be killed with the same stone; provide clean, renewable energy and protect the forests.

Source: Tanzania Daily News