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Revealed: Tanzania’s strategic role in global energy market
President Samia Suluhu Hassan in a group photo with African heads of state and global partners during the two-day Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, held in Dar es Salaam from 27–28 January 2025. PHOTO | SUNDAY GEORGE
What you need to know:
- Experts have highlighted the significance of Tanzania hosting major global meetings, believing that it is another area where the country, known for its ability to unite Africans, is making its new mark.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has emerged as a pivotal player in global energy dialogues, leveraging its strategic initiatives and abundant resources to drive significant developments in the sector.
This has made the East African nation position itself as a leader in Africa’s energy transition having hosted four major energy summits in three months.
Tanzania hosted the Energy Connect Conference & Exhibition Summit and the 9th Africa Energy Market Place (AEMP) in October 2024. In January 2025, the country hosted the Africa Energy Summit (Mission 300).
From March 4-7, Dar es Salaam hosted the 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibitions (EAPCE’25).
All the forums attracted top Heads of States, policymakers, industry leaders and energy experts worldwide, who together declared strategies to spearhead the region’s energy agenda.
But what does this mean for Tanzania’s energy transition agenda, the country’s economic growth and Africa’s energy goals?
During the Mission 300 summit, which focused on addressing Africa’s energy challenges, Tanzania committed to expand its energy capacity to 4,000 megawatts by the end of the year, 61 percent of which is projected to come from renewable sources.
Experts have highlighted the significance of Tanzania hosting major global meetings, believing that it is another area where the country, known for its ability to unite Africans, is making its new mark.
“This demonstrates how Tanzania is now trusted and that people recognise the government’s efforts in leading the energy revolution in the continent,” said energy expert Mr Emmanuel Nyanda.
He added, “Such a position gives Tanzania a great opportunity to achieve its energy goals due to the trust it has gained from across the globe.”
President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s exceptional recognition as a champion for clean cooking is presenting Tanzania as Africa’s energy focal point.
At COP28, President Hassan launched the African Women’s Clean Cooking Support Programme (AWCCSP), positioning clean cooking as a pan-African priority.
She emphasised that approximately 80 percent of sub-Saharan African households rely on wood-based biomass for cooking, leading to deforestation and health risks.
Her call for a $12 billion replenishment of the African Development Fund underscored Tanzania’s commitment to securing financial backing for clean energy solutions across the region.
An expert from Uganda, Dr Sospeter Munyoro, who participated in all the energy forums in Dar es Salaam, said Tanzania was a role model especially in pioneering clean cooking in Africa.
“Tanzania is in a good position to help Africa achieve Mission 300 and clean energy goals. Not because it has already succeeded nationally, but due to the influence and trust it currently holds globally, especially in energy matters.
If other African states decide to unite in supporting Tanzania as it leads this agenda, we can achieve the goals even before the 2030 deadline set for a clean cooking transition.”
Tanzania is among the African countries that would benefit from the African Development Bank (AfDB) pledge of $2 billion over 10 years towards clean cooking solutions in Africa.
The pledge made during Mission 300, represents an important contribution to the $4 billion per year needed to allow African families to have access to clean cooking by 2030.
Private sector investment is also growing. The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and international partners have signed agreements worth over $2 billion to develop gas infrastructure that will support both domestic consumption and export.
The government is actively negotiating with major energy corporations, including Equinor and Shell, to finalise a $42 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project by June 2025.
Tanzania’s National Clean Cooking Strategy 2024-2034 outlines ambitious targets to integrate cleaner fuels into the country’s energy mix.
This includes improved access to LPG, ethanol and electricity-based cooking solutions. The government is also working on integrating energy planning between cooking and electricity to ensure efficiency and sustainability.
So far, Tanzania has discovered an estimated 57.54 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas. Of this, 1.16 trillion TCF has been verified and partially utilised since 2004 for power generation.
