Diplomats pledge support for green energy drive

Dar es Salaam. Foreign envoys have expressed their commitment to supporting Tanzania in unlocking renewable power generation potential and improving local access to affordable green energy.

The ambassadors, who also spoke during the 4th Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit, said Tanzania has room for investment in hydroelectric, geothermal, and renewable energy.

The head of the European Union delegation to Tanzania, Manfredo Fanti, told The Citizen that the EU will continue to be an important partner in ensuring sustainable and equitable access to clean energy for the citizens.

“We have provided more than €180 million to energy actions in the country, including to the Rural Energy Agency (REA), the generation of clean cooking, and the sustainable production and use of biomass,” he said.

This week, 16 clean cooking firms received a total of Sh3.2 billion from the Cook Fund, an EU-supported program, which will allow them to expand their capacities in the distribution of modern cooking facilities, he said.

The EU is also partly a key player in the $30 billion Liquefied natural gas (LNG) that Tanzania is currently negotiating with investors.

On his part, the United Kingdom’s (UK) High Commissioner to Tanzania, Mr David Concar, said it is time Tanzania developed its renewable energy roadmap to meet the growing needs of the power sector, while utilizing its resources in a way that is cost-effective and aligned with adapting to the pressing impacts of climate change.

“The UK is committed to ongoing collaboration with Tanzania to promote renewables, through trade and investment, technical assistance, and supporting access to climate finance,” he said.

He further explained that from 2015 to 2020, his country had bilaterally invested nearly €4 million via multi-laterals such as the World Bank and African Development Bank to support rural electrification.

Mr Concar further highlighted that there is a need to embrace the opportunities in energy now, with the government taking a facilitative role to support the enabling environment to attract international investors and climate finance alike.

“As for the UK, our Net Zero Strategy sets out how we will deliver on our commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. It also explains how businesses and consumers will be supported to make the transition to clean energy and green technology—lowering our reliance on fossil fuels, reducing the risk of high and volatile prices in the future, and strengthening our energy security,” he said.

The Germany ambassador to Tanzania, Regine Hess, said the energy sector in Tanzania is an opportunity because it reveals an immense need due to the growing Tanzanian population and the country’s need to industrialise.

She said her country will be focusing on opportunities in renewable energies because of the high-end expertise available in German markets and their willingness to share.

“And Germany has a lot of know-how on energy efficiency. Focusing on the energy efficiency of industry and buildings, for instance, can help reduce the need for energy,” she said.

High Commissioner of India to Tanzania, Mr Binaya Pradhan, expressed his country’s willingness to expand its energy collaboration with Tanzania.

He stated that India is looking at Tanzanian oil and gas, power, and renewable energy sectors. He said his country will continue to share its experience and lessons learned in the transition to clean cooking fuel.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan said during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos that it was high time the powerhouses turned their focus to Africa to satisfy the world’s energy demand.

“It’s high time to come to Africa, extract from Africa, manufacture from Africa, and leave some energy in Africa while also supplying your countries,” President Hassan said during the session that explored how world leaders and private decision-makers could balance short-term needs with longer-term supply, sustainability, and affordability requirements in a fraught geopolitical environment.