Geothermal power: Tanzania’s renewed drive for green energy

• Tanzania is increasingly embracing geothermal sources for green energy.
• The country is partnering with Indonesia, Japan for geothermal development.
• At least five geothermal power sites are under exploration in Tanzania.

Geothermal power has the potential to revolutionize Tanzania’s energy industry as the country pushes it’s green energy initiative forward. Most recently, Tanzania invited foreign investors into geothermal power exploration and development at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) General Meeting.

The forum of the Global Geothermal Alliance brought together key sector stakeholders and Tanzania seized the opportunity to highlight its geothermal potential.

“The geothermal resources of the country are found in two branches of the East African Rift Valley known as the geothermal hot zone,” Dr. Hatibu Kazungu, Tanzania’s Energy deputy permanent secretary informed the delegates.

He said so far, surveys conducted have identified around 50 promising sites across 16 regions in the country. He listed five sites where exploration is underway including Ngozi (70 MW), Kiejo-Mbaka (60 MW), Songwe (38 MW), Luhoi (5 MW) and Natron (60 MW).

“These projects are at various stages of resource verification with the aim of harnessing geothermal energy to drive economic growth, protect the environment, and create jobs,” he explained.

Geothermal power, being a relatively new resource in energy generation in Tanzania, is managed by the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC). According to Dr. Kazungu, TGDC has strategically invested on human resource and knowledge base since its establishment on July, 2013.

The energy industry permanent secretary said in preparation for geothermal power development in the country, a good number of Tanzanian geoscientists and engineers have acquired knowledge and skills from neighbouring Kenya, University of Iceland and Kyushu University (Japan).

He said TGDC offers geothermal exploration consultancy at all geothermal development phases from reconnaissance to drilling. “The service include planning, data acquisitions, data analysis, data processing and modelling and interpretation,” he detailed.

Geothermal power: Tanzania’s partnership with Indonesia

Tanzania’s state-owned utility monopoly Tanesco, has partnered with Indonesia’s PT PLN to facilitate Tanzania’s geothermal development.

Indonesia’s state-owned electricity company PT PLN (Persero) signed an MOU with Tanzania Electric Supply Co Ltd (Tanesco) with the aim of supporting geothermal development in Tanzania, reads the press release shared after the signing event in May of this year.

“Part of the agreement is to designate the Gunung Salak geothermal power plant in West Java as a benchmark for Tanesco’s own plans for geothermal power development,” the report detailed.

The move is facilitated by the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) which is a subsidiary of Tanesco.

According to the director of PT PLN, Edwin Nugraha, “Tanesco will study the business transformation process of PLN so that it can develop a more reliable and sustainable electricity system in Tanzania.”

Detailing on the partnership, an update explains that the Gunung Salak facility in Indonesia was selected not only for its reliable power supply to West Java, but also because it runs a carbon trading unit using voluntary carbon units (VCUs).

The PS said, the MOU between PLN and Tanaesco covers four scopes of cooperation, these are digitization of services including generation and distribution, and development of core business utilities including maintenance, repair, and operation

Other areas include, development of non-core business utilities such as power quality solutions and finally the two countries will assist ech other in capacity building training through internships of Tanesco employees with PLN’s digital transformation and electricity core business sector.

In his comments, Boniface Gissima Nyamo-Hanga, Managing Director of Tanesco, commended the operating systems used by PLN, notably, the virtual power plant.

“I am very happy to have visited here. In the future, we will develop a similar system in Tanzania. We also want to exchange expertise in developing this system,” he told the PLN authorities in Indonesia citing the fact that the virtual gerthermal power plant can be used as a digital training medium

According to the press release, “…PLN is currently involved in the development of several geothermal sites in Indonesia.”

“The state-owned firm recently published a tender for well logging services in the Ulumbu and Mataloko sites, and announced the selection of Star Energy to co-develop the Kepahiang geothermal prospect,” it details.

Read also: Unlocking Value: Africa’s rise as a hub for mineral processing

Geothermal power: Tanzania’s partnership with Japan

Following success of the the partnership in Indonesia, Tanzania did not stop there, rather as part of the Tanzania Investment Promotion Mission, officials from the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited (TGDC) convened a meeting with Toshiba Corporation at the United Nations University Headquarters in Tokyo to discuss potential areas of cooperation in the geothermal energy sector.

The meeting, held last month, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the energy sector, with a special focus on geothermal development in Tanzania. TGDC’s General Manager, Eng. Mathew Mwangomba, led the discussion, highlighting the country’s geothermal potential and its strategic role in supporting Tanzania’s clean energy ambitions.

Speaking to press after the meet, Eng. Mwangomba expressed TGDC’s interest in forming a mutually beneficial partnership with Toshiba. He emphasized areas of cooperation such as technology exchange, capacity building, and project development support.

“We believe that collaboration between TGDC and Toshiba could bring impactful results for both sides,” he said. The envoy used the opportunity to invite other potential partners; “Tanzania is committed to sustainable energy solutions, and we welcome trusted partners to join us in this journey,” he said.

According to the media communique; “The engagement is part of broader efforts to attract investment and expertise into Tanzania’s renewable energy space, reinforcing the country’s commitment to a greener and more resilient energy future.”

The Tanzanian delegates went on to hold a second stakeholders meeting with yet another gerthermal power company in Japan, this time, the Sumitomo Corporation.