This context paper captures diverse perspectives from a consultation held in Dar es Salaam in December 2023. The paper outlines Tanzania's current energy mix and the energy choices facing its society. It also addresses energy investments aimed at reducing energy poverty and improving the well-being of Tanzanian citizens. Additionally, the paper discusses the consequences of today's energy choices and outlines a research agenda, highlighting key thematic areas and energy topics that require thorough investigation for the Sustainable Energy Futures Tanzania Report.
As Tanzania experiences rapid population growth and economic expansion, the demand for energy is reaching new heights.To meet this demand, initiatives are underway to bolster the country's energy supply. Tanzania is rich in diverse energy resources, including biomass, fossil fuels, and abundant, high quality renewable resources like wind, solar, and hydropower, which could potentially satisfy its expanding energy needs. Yet, despite these resources, a significant segment of Tanzania's population faces energy poverty, relying heavily on wood and charcoal for their daily household energy requirements. Addressing this disparity is critical as Tanzania confronts its energy challenges.
Following the successful launch of the Energy for whom? Scenarios for Eastern Africa in September 2018, SID is embarking on an initiative to reintroduce the Sustainable Energy Futures Project to Tanzania. The main aim of this initiative is to reestablish an informal energy impact network referred to as the Energy Reference group (ERG Tanzania) and develop the Sustainable Energy Futures Report for Tanzania (SEF Tanzania Report) to serve as an update on the current status of the energy system in Tanzania.
To kick start this initiative, Society for International Development in collaboration with Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung(HBS) held its first consultation meeting in Dar es salaam in December 2023. Attended by energy stakeholders weaved from different sectors including civil society, private sector, academia/ research institutions, media, consumer groups, women and youth constituencies, came together to discuss and identifying crucial and emergent energy issues to contribute to the development of an initial context paper laying the foundation for a comprehensive research agenda.
This context paper captures diverse perspectives coming from this first consultation and describes Tanzania’s energy mix today, and the energy choices facing its society. It also addresses energy investments in the country towards reducing energy poverty and improving the well being of Tanzanian citizens, the consequences of the energy choices made today and outlines a research agenda highlighting important thematic areas and energy topics that require thorough research to be compiled under the Sustainable Energy Futures Tanzania Report.
You can now download the full paper here