The Tanzanian government has justified its decision to import electricity from Ethiopia through Kenya, highlighting its potential to enhance energy efficiency and address chronic power shortages in the Northern Zone. These outages have led to annual economic losses exceeding Sh32 billion.

Speaking in Kilimanjaro at the inauguration of a water project, President Samia Suluhu Hassan acknowledged public concerns but reassured citizens that the decision was carefully evaluated. She explained that transmitting electricity from the South-Eastern region to the Northern Zone has resulted in substantial energy losses, making the local supply unreliable. Importing power from Ethiopia, she emphasized, offers a more stable and cost-effective alternative.

Government Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa later reinforced this stance, noting that Tanzania’s existing transmission system struggles with long-distance energy losses, contributing to frequent outages. He added that sourcing electricity from Ethiopia via Kenya will help mitigate these challenges and strengthen grid reliability.

The government also pointed out that importing electricity is not a new approach, as Tanzania has previously sourced power from neighboring Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya to supply its border regions. Additionally, the country is positioning itself to participate more actively in regional power trade, including future electricity exports. This aligns with commitments made during the recent Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, where East African leaders pledged to enhance cross-border energy cooperation.

Source: MOPAWA