Tanzania earmarks initial geothermal development at Ngozi and Songwe
Presenting the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC), Shakilu Idrissa, Principal Energy Officer described geothermal energy as [Tanzania]’s “richest affordable and environmentally sustainable energy source.”
The Tanzanian government decided to go a similar road than its neighbour Kenya and founded TGDC to drive geothermal development by taking the up-front risk in drilling and resource exploration.
At a recent forum on France-Tanzania business relations in Dar es Salaam, it was reported that TGDC ” has already earmarked three exploratory wells in Ngozi and Songwe and that it expects to spend about $8 million on the job, to be sourced from within government and other funders.
TDGC also plans to source over $1.5m for initial exploratory work in phosphate-rich Lake Natron in Arusha Region, where it is believed geothermal potential is also immense.”
Stating a geothermal potential of 5,000 MW, which is described by many experts as excessively optimistic, the geothermal potential of the country is extensive and geothermal energy could play a great role in fueling a growing energy demand in the country.
Source: Azania Post