Tanzania’s TGDC plans up to 200 MW geothermal development by 2025

Lake Ngozi, Tanzania (source: flickr/ Sara&Joachim, creative commons)

With recent reports on a tender for slim-well drilling equipment, Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC), a subsidiary of state-owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) is now detailing plans for up to 200 MW geothermal development over the next four years, so Afrik21.

Tanzania is in dire need to diversify its electricity mix similar to other countries in East Africa. Ongoing drought has greatly reduced the flow of rivers and thereby the resources to drive hydropower plants.

TGDC is covering several geothermal sites for potential development in Tanzania, including Ngozi in Mbeya and Songwe regions, Kiejo-Mbaka in Mbeya region, Natron in Arusha region and Luhoi in the coastal region.

The focus for development thereby sits with the Ngozi site, which is seen as the most promising site. The development potential is estimated at 600 MWe, which industry experts have described as somewhat too optimistic.  So far the government has earmarked around $9 million for the acquisition of drilling rigs for exploration on the project site.

The company further has announced plans of hiring a local company for the shallow well drilling for exploration at the Kijo-Mbaka project in the Mbeya region.

According to the presentation by TGDC, Tanzania has more than 50 sites that have the potential to generate electricity from geothermal energy. These sites are spread across the regions of Mbeya, Arusha, Dodoma, Iringa, Coast, Kilimanjaro, Kagera, Katavi, Shinyanga, Morogoro, Mwara, Manyara, Rukwa, Singida, Songwe and Tanga.

Source: Afrik21