Tanzania should give geothermal energy a chance

There are several African countries with excellent geothermal potential. Geothermal is together with solar the most talked about renewable energy option in Africa.

One of the African countries with excellent geothermal potential is Tanzania.  Tanzania has abundant geothermal resources with recent official estimates going at around 5,000 MW of geothermal power capacity, with 50 potential areas across the country.

The regions with the biggest geothermal potential in the country include the Northern Zone, comprising Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Mara regions; the Southern Zone with Rukwa and Mbeya regions, and the Eastern coastal belt.

It has been reported that Tanzania would be able to produce 200MW from geothermal by 2020, with the help of Public-Private Partnership arrangements.

There are several foreign companies interested in geothermal energy development in Tanzania. The government will have to create better conditions for foreign investments by creating better business environment by adopting progressing renewable energy policy.

The Minister of Energy and Minerals Prof. Sospeter Muhongo, has already directed the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) to start drilling in the area of Lake Ngozi by June 2016.

On global level, geothermal power developments are estimated to total $7.99bn in 2016.