Summary
* Tanzania plans to implement 13 projects within the next five years, requiring an investment of USD 2.77 billion.
* Tanzania has over 57 trillion cubic feet of gas which has not yet been fully utilized.
WASHINGTON: THE government of Tanzania has announced the availability of major investment opportunities in the energy sector valued at USD 12.9 billion, as part of a strategy to boost the economy and improve access to energy services in the country.
Speaking during a special dialogue designed to discuss on U.S. partnership with East African Community (EAC) countries at the Powering Africa Summit, the Deputy Minister of Energy in Tanzania, Ms. Salome Makamba said this investment is needed in various areas including electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and clean cooking energy.
In her briefing in the meeting held on March 20, 2026, in Washington D.C, Ms. Makamba explained that in the electricity generation sector, Tanzania plans to implement 13 projects within the next five years, requiring an investment of USD 2.77 billion.
She detailed that the ambitious move is projected to enable the addition of 1,421 megawatts of electricity in the country.
Regarding electricity transmission infrastructure, she said a total of 23 projects worth USD 1.21 billion are planned for construction, including 1,350 kilometers of transmission lines along with substations.
Furthermore, Ms. Makamba noted that there are numerous opportunities in the natural gas sector, saying that Tanzania has over 57 trillion cubic feet of gas which has not yet been fully utilized.
And the minister emphasized the importance of investment in the extraction, processing, and use of this gas for electricity generation and industrial activities.
In another development, Minister Makamba stated that the government of Tanzania continues to promote the use of clean cooking energy, aiming to reach 75 percent usage by 2030.
This plan involves the distribution of improved cookstoves, gas, and other environmentally friendly technologies, according to her.
The minister urged investors participating in the summit to take advantage of the existing opportunities to invest in the country, while the government continues to improve the business environment and establish investment-friendly policies.
At the Summit, Deputy Minister Salome was accompanied by the Ambassador of Tanzania to the United States, Hon. Else Sia Kanza, and key experts from the parent ministry, Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) Rural Energy Agency (REA), and Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA)
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