As renewable and efficient energy gradually settles into Africa’s developing power sector, the government of Tanzania has established a company to guide the country into efficiently tapping its geothermal energy sources to generate electrical power for the country.Tanzanian Minister of Energy and Minerals, Professor Sospeter Muhongo disclosed that the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company kick started operations last month as a subsidiary of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO).
The company aims to start generating up to 4,000 megawatts of electricity from the new source within two years.
It “started in July by exploring sites where production can start but Lake Ngozi in Mbeya has so far been identified as a suitable location to start generation,” the minister said.[eap_ad_2]
“However, generation through geothermal, unlike other sources, is done in phases so we should not expect to have the 4,000 plus megawatts overnight.”
“We have huge potentials in geothermal since Tanzania has the largest share of the East Africa’s Rift Valley system. I should admit that we have delayed to make use of this opportunity,” Sospeter added.
Experts have confirmed that Tanzania indeed has the largest part of both the Eastern and Western Arm of the East African Rift Valley system which is quite suitable for producing geothermal energy.
Sospeter further revealed an electricity generation regime he described as an ‘energy mix’ or ‘energy matrix’ in which Geothermal is listed as number six on the available options for electricity generation. The country will be collaborating with the likes of Germany, Japan, Italy and the United States in order to acquire the necessary expertise and knowledge base to further tap the new energy source.
In addition to Geothermal, other sources in the energy matrix include renewable sources such as solar, waves & tides, and the biomass‐biogas combination. However, Natural gas, coal and hydro are the top three choices to double the current generating capacity of 1,500 megawatts to 3,000 megawatts within two years. (VENTURES AFRICA)[eap_ad_3]
