WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

1.1.12 United Republic of Tanzania
Emmanuel G. Michael, United Nations Industrial
Development Organization, United Republic of Tanzania
Coal
Natural gas
2.7%
36.3%
Key facts
Population 46,912,768 1
Area 945,749 km 2
Climate
Topography
Rain
Pattern
Tropical (hot and humid) along the coast
with a rainy season March to May.
Temperate in highlands with short rains
(Vuli) November to December and long
rains (Masika) February to May.
Plains along coast; central plateau;
highlands in north, south
The mean annual rainfall varies from
500-2,500 mm and above. The average
duration of the dry season is 5-6
months. Rainfall patterns have recently
become much more unpredictable with
some areas/zones receiving extremely
minimum and maximum rainfall per
year. 2
Electricity sector overview
The electricity sector in Tanzania is dominated by the
state-owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited
(TANESCO) that was established in 1964. It was set up in
a vertically integrated structure, carrying out generation,
transmission, distribution and supply. TANESCO
operates the grid network and isolated supply systems
in Kagera, Kigoma, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Mtwara and Lindi.
Due to slow development in the sector and the general
global trend in the electricity supply industry, the
Government lifted the monopoly held by the public
utility in 1992 through the National Energy Policy to
allow involvement of the private sector in the electricity
industry. This major policy reform enabled independent
power producers to operate in the generation segment.
Furthermore, interconnections with Zambia and Uganda
enable imports of relatively small amounts of electricity.
For many years, the power sector in Tanzania was
dominated by hydropower, only when the country
encountered a severe drought in 2004, it had employed
additional thermal plants (figure 1). Up until the last
decade, rural electrification had been solely a
Government responsibility with support development
partners such as the United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO). Hence, most of the
small hydropower plants were installed by donors,
missionaries and the Government through TANESCO.
Hydropower
60.2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in the United Republic of
Tanzania
Source: Tradingeconomics 3
Note: Data from 2009.
In 2010, Tanzania’s total installed electricity generation
capacity was 1,219 MW, of which hydropower
comprised 561 MW and thermal 658 MW. The
contribution of non-hydro renewable energy for power
generation is less than five per cent.
At the moment, the electrification rate stands at 14 per
cent countrywide and two per cent for rural areas.
Efforts are being made to increase access in rural areas.
The Rural Energy Agency has been established to
oversee the implementation of rural electrification
projects, using the Rural Energy Fund as provided in the
Rural Energy Act.
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
The history of small hydropower in Tanzania traces back
to the colonial era, where most of the operational small
hydropower plants were installed with the help of
church missionaries. Forty-five sites with a total installed
capacity of 25 MW have been developed so far, of which
only 17.6 MW are currently in operation (figure 2). Most
of the schemes have capacities lower than 5 MW, as
shown in figure 3. TANESCO owns 15 per cent of the
small hydropower plants and private investors own 85
per cent. In terms of installed capacity, TANESCO owns
69 per cent. The database of the Rural Energy Agency
shows that 13 projects with a total capacity of 28.8 MW
are in various stages of development. 5
SHP installed capacity
SHP potential
25 MW
310 MW
0 100 200 300 400
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in the United
Republic of Tanzania
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