Tanzania: Govt to Generate 200MW From Geothermal

Dar es Salaam — The government, through its geothermal development company, plans to generate 200MW from the newly discovered underground source of energy by 2020.

The plan is contained in geothermal development targets and strategies to be implemented by Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited (TGDC), which was established in 2013 and became operational in 2014.

TGDC general manager and chief executive officer Boniface Njombe said preparations have already started to ensure the plan is achieved. The projected 200MW is part of the 5000MW estimated potentials of electricity that can be generated from geothermal.

In his presentation to national and international stakeholders at the third annual Powering Africa conference held in Dar es Salaam, Mr Njombe said his company has initiated a project pipeline with a target of achieving the generation of the megawatts.

"The project requires proper matching of resources to meet expectations, including training the experts," he told the participants.

There are a number of activities in place to achieve the 200MW by 2020, which include development of strategic plan (25 years) and five years rolling plan to guide the company businesses, develop key capabilities in geothermal exploration and development, establishing working relationships and creating awareness with the local, regional and international stakeholders and soliciting financial and technical support from public private and development partners.

According to Mr Njombe, the fund will help in exploration, training and acquisition of equipment, tools and other materials.

"Eight staff members have been trained, one in Japan and seven others in Kenya. Four drilling engineers have been readied for training," said Mr Njombe.

Geothermal development in the country was mainly hindered by availability of other sources, inadequate development of human resources and high upstream risks involved in its development.

Some data shows that Tanzania has several sites of geothermal potentials scattered in Kilimanjaro, Rukwa, Morogoro, Singida, Arusha, Mbeya, Shinyanga, Rufiji, Mara and Dodoma. With the formation of TGDC, a lot is expected with regards to development of geothermal power in the country.