Tanzania Energy Information

Tanzania Energy Research

- Tanzania's Energy & Climate Policy Framework: Tanzania aims to double renewables in its energy mix and cut energy intensity by 2.6% annually by 2030. The Ministry of Energy and Vice President’s Office oversee policy and environmental management. EWURA regulates the energy sector. The National Energy Policy (2015) promotes sustainable energy with a focus on renewables. The electricity sector is governed by the 2008 Electricity Act, amended in 2016, promoting competition and rural electrification. The Rural Energy Agency (REA) drives off-grid and rural electrification projects. The oil and gas sector is regulated by the 2015 Petroleum Act, with PURA overseeing upstream activities. The coal industry is governed by the 2010 Mining Act, amended in 2012, promoting local development. Tanzania aims to cut GHG emissions by 30-35% by 2030.

- Tanzania's Energy Companies: Tanesco dominates Tanzania's energy sector, controlling 87% of electricity generation. Songas, the second-largest provider, shut down its plant in November 2024. Equinor and Shell hold significant gas reserves, while coal and uranium exploration are ongoing.

- Tanzania's Energy Supply & Demand: Tanzania's energy supply grew by 11% in 2024, dominated by gas (65%) and biomass (75%). Hydropower expanded with a 2.1 GW plant commissioned in 2025. Oil is fully imported, while gas and coal production remain low. Electricity generation increased by 12%, with gas and hydropower leading. Renewables are negligible. Energy demand is rising, with biomass and oil gaining share.

- Tanzania's Energy Use & Price by Sector: Biomass dominates final energy demand (76%), but its share is declining. Oil products' share has risen to 16%. Residential, services, and agriculture account for 74% of consumption, heavily reliant on biomass. Industrial demand has grown, shifting from biomass to coal and gas. Transport sector demand tripled, solely using oil products. Electricity prices have generally declined since 2017.

- Tanzania's Issues & Prospects: Tanzania's Power System Master Plan 2024 targets 19.9 GW capacity by 2050, with 57% renewables, aiming to reduce transmission losses and boost per capita electricity consumption. Key projects include gas, coal, solar, wind, and geothermal developments, alongside significant transmission line expansions. Investment totals USUSD 40bn, with USUSD 12.9bn needed short-term.

Tanzania Total Energy Production & Consumption

The primary energy consumption has been rising by 2.8%/year since 2010 to 30 Mtoe in 2025. Biomass is dominating the energy mix (74% in 2025), although with a declining share (-13 points since 2010), while oil and gas are taking a growing share: 15% for oil (+ 7 pp) and 7% for gas (+4 pp). Hydropower (primary electricity) has a negligible part of the primary energy mix (2%). Coal share is also minor (2%), although rising (+ 2 pp since 2010).

Graph: Primary Consumption Trends by Energy Source

Source: Tanzania energy report

Interactive Chart Tanzania Total Energy Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Tanzania Oil Production & Consumption

After the last refinery ceased its operations in 1999, Tanzania became completely dependent on imports for its supply of oil products. The consumption of refined petroleum products increased rapidly at an average of 7%/year since 2010, reaching 4.4 Mt in 2025. Two thirds of oil demand was for transport, while industry and buildings absorb around 15% each.

Graph: Petroleum Products Production & Consumption

Source: Tanzania energy report

Interactive Chart Tanzania Crude Oil Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Interactive Chart Tanzania Refined Oil Products Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Tanzania Natural Gas Production & Consumption

Gas production started in 2004 and has grown at an average pace of 16% per year since then, reaching 2.5 bcm/year in 2025. Natural gas production is mainly carried out in two fields: Mnazi Bay and Songo Songo.

The country does not import or export natural gas. The only high-pressure gas pipeline mainly serves to transport the resource from its production area in the south of the country (off the Songo Songo island) to Daar es Salam. In 2024, around 80% of the gas was used for power generation and the rest in industry.

Graph: Gas Production & Consumption

Source: Tanzania energy report

Interactive Chart Tanzania Gas Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Tanzania Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Coal production has more than tripled since 2020, reaching 3.3 Mt in 2025. After decades of very low levels, the production of coal started to take off in 2014, with the development of several mines, such as Ngaka. An increasing share of the coal production is exported (66% in 2025, compared to 17% in 2019). The rest is used in industry.

Graph: Coal Production & Consumption

Source: Tanzania energy report

Interactive Chart Tanzania Coal and Lignite Production & Consumption

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Tanzania Renewable in % Electricity Production

Under the framework of the 2010 SE4ALL Action Agenda, prepared in 2015 and officially launched in 2016, the country intends to double the share of renewables in its energy mix by 2030 compared to 2010 (including reaching at least 50% of renewables in the power mix). Tanzania was selected by the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP), part of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). The PSMP 2024 Update forecasts an increase in the share of renewables in the power capacity mix in 2050, from 37% in 2019 to 57% by 2050.

Source: Tanzania energy report

Interactive Chart Tanzania Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data

Tanzania GHG emissions and CO₂ emissions

In its updated NDC (2021), the country plans to cut its GHG emissions by 30-35% by 2030 compared to a BAU scenario.

Source: Tanzania energy report

Interactive Chart Tanzania CO₂ emissions

Source: Global Energy & CO₂ data