Tanzania is ramping up efforts to draw international investors into its geothermal sector to harness vast resources for sustainable electricity generation. At the Global Geothermal Alliance (GGA) annual meeting hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi on January 13, 2026, Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi outlined reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence, including strengthened legal and regulatory frameworks, streamlined licensing and permitting processes, and improved access to geothermal data.
Geothermal development is a key pillar of Tanzania’s energy strategy, aligning with the Tanzania Development Vision 2050, the National Energy Policy of 2015, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under international climate agreements. Ndejembi stated: “Tanzania’s rich geothermal endowment offers a strategic pathway to scale up power generation in support of national development goals and global clean energy commitments.”
Through the state-owned Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC), priority projects include the Ngozi field (70 MW capacity), Songwe (5–38 MW), Kiejo-Mbaka (60 MW), Natron (60 MW), and Luhoi (initial 5 MW). The government aims to commission the country’s first geothermal power plant by 2030, targeting a total installed capacity of 130 MW, beginning with a 30 MW phase.
Projects are capital-intensive, particularly in exploration phases, prompting calls for concessional financing, international partnerships, and capacity-building collaborations with advanced geothermal nations. Situated along the Great Rift Valley, Tanzania has an estimated geothermal potential of up to 5,000 MW, with 52 sites identified across 16 regions.
IRENA underscores the need to accelerate geothermal deployment for global energy security, noting its currently limited role in worldwide electricity generation.
