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Tanzania ambitious to make progress on geothermal development

Tanzania ambitious to make progress on geothermal development Lake Ngozi, Mbeya, Tanzania (source: flickr/ Sara&Joachim, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 29 Apr 2019

With a new piece of legislation to facilitate management of geothermal development, Tanzania is set to start its ambitious geothermal development plan, starting with the Lake Ngozi pilot project.

Last week during a workshop for Tanzania’s Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals members, Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) General Manager, Mr Kato Kabaka, said that it expects to see development of a geothermal power plant at Lake Ngozi in 2021.

The government already invested TZS 20.714bn (around $8.9 million)­ for the purchase of a drilling rig for the proejct in the Mbeya Region.

“Presently, the government is finalising the process to amend the law which will facilitate management of geothermal development in the country,” said the TGDC’s general manager while making a presentation to the workshop.

The government has further development plans for seven other geothermal project sites between 2021 and 2025.

The project sites are Songwe, Luhoi in Lower Rufiji River, Kiejo­Mbaka, Lake Natron and Lake Ngozi in Mbeya Region, with a development target of up to 200 MW.

Mr Kabaka pointed out exploration costs as major challenges for implementation of the project and that the government continues to seek sources of funds in order to finance the task.

“The government covers a large part of the costs in the project implementation. Drilling is planned for the Lake Ngozi pilot project and is expected to be completed within the next 23 months. The development target is 30 MW.

Mr Kabaka noted that the government was also funding training for local geothermal experts and that so far, 36 experts had received a short training course in geothermal aspects.

Source: Daily News