Energy Sources, Utilization and Energy Access in Tanzania
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Date
2010-01
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Abstract
The energy sources in Tanzania include: bio energy (mainly biomass), electricity, petroleum oil (imported), natural gas, coal, solar and wind. Among these sources, biomass, hydro, wind and solar are renewable sources of energy. As a result of high capital costs and technologies associated with harnessing solar and wind energies, these have been utilized to a very small scale in Tanzania. Some of the potential hydropower sources have been developed for production of main grid electricity, but due to climate change, which has lead to drought in some years, electricity production from the installed hydropower plants sometimes goes below the production capacity. Other electricity production sources are from natural gas, petroleum oil and coal. Bio energy resource (mainly fuel wood and charcoal from both natural forest and plantations) accounts for 93% of total energy consumption. The challenge which lies ahead is how to increase clean energy access. The paper explores the current energy status in Tanzania, energy access and problems associated with energy access and initiatives in place.