Tanzania Reaches Major Electrification Milestone As Country Attains 78% Electrification Rate

Africa | Energy & Environment | Tanzania June 4, 2021

78% of Tanzania’s population have access to electricity, implying that 47 million people of its estimated population of 60 million are now connected to electricity. That was announced by the government of Tanzania on June 2, 2021.

78% electrification rate is a major milestone in Tanzania’s electrification program. That makes the East Africa nation one of the most electrified countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and the most electrified in East African Community (EAC). It is probably worth noting at this juncture that not long ago, Tanzania that is now a middle-income economy, was classified as one of the income poorest in the world with its electrification rate alias electricity access rate at less than 15% in 2008.

According to the announcement that was made by the country’s minister of energy during presentation of the ministry’s 2021/22 annual budget to the parliament, Tanzania’s electricity generation capacity that currently stands at 1 606 megawatts (MW), is expected to more than triple to staggering 5 000 MW by 2025 after a gigantic hydroelectric dam called Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Dam that is under construction on Rufiji River, is completed. With the country’s electricity demand estimated at 2 677 MW in 2025, the above expected increased electricity generation capacity would give the country surplus electricity of 2 323 MW that could be exported, says the government.

Construction of the 2 115 MW Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Dam commenced in 2019 at a cost of $2.9 billion. The latter is said to be largely from local funds. The construction is expected to be completed in 2022. Now, the dam is said to be about 58% completed.

More generally, national electrification rate has considerable implications for industrialization hence national income growth. Lack of adequate and reliable electricity supply is probably the biggest stumbling block to industrialization of nations. Lack of electricity may also impede other social and economic development efforts like education, medical and health services, security, leisure, telecommunication, food supply, clean water supply, etc. _________________________ © 2015 - 2021 Africauptodate. All Rights Reserved