Browsing: Tanzania

• Mission 300 will invest in new and rehabilitation of generation capacity, transmission systems, including intra- and regional interconnections, as well as distribution grids to build robust and reliable power systems.
• It will be complemented by reforms in the energy sector to ensure affordability and sustainability of electricity service, and financially viable utilities.

Across Africa, nearly 600 million people live in energy poverty, deprived of reliable access to electricity—a fundamental prerequisite for modern life. This staggering statistic represents more than just a lack of power.  Significantly, it translates to limited opportunities for education, healthcare, gender equality, and economic growth.

Mission 300, a bold initiative championed by the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group in collaboration with key partners, seeks to change this narrative by providing first time electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.  A key milestone in this effort, branded Mission 300, is the Africa …

• Tanzania is rapidly transforming into a digital economy, with significant growth in mobile money accounts and transaction values.
• Mobile money transactions increased by 25.2% to 1.1 trillion TZS in December 2024, with mobile money account subscriptions rising by 3.9% to 63.2 million.
• M-PESA leads the mobile money market in Tanzania with 24 million subscribers, followed by Mixx by Yas with 19 million users and Airtel Money with 11 million.

Tanzania is steadily transforming into a digital economy with mobile phone subscriptions and mobile money transactions becoming increasingly popular across value chains. The country has experienced significant increase both in number of new mobile money accounts and in the number and the value of transactions conducted annually. This is clear evidence of “a deeper financial inclusion and a rapidly expanding digital economy” says the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

According to TCRA, mobile money transactions grew by 25.2 percent during the …

• Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, addressing the continent’s significant energy deficit and driving transformative development.
• The initiative banks on partnerships, innovative financing, and renewable energy projects like mini-grids and solar plants to overcome infrastructure and policy challenges.
• Success hinges on bold reforms, private sector investment, and collaborative action to reshape Africa’s energy future.

Africa’s energy landscape has long been a tale of untapped potential, innovation, and persistent challenges. With over 600 million people lacking access to electricity—representing 83 per cent of the world’s energy-deprived population—the continent’s policymakers face a monumental task in lighting up its future.

Enter Mission 300, an ambitious initiative spearheaded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank Group, and a coalition of global partners. Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. But can this initiative finally brighten Africa’s energy horizon? Let’s explore.

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• Wärtsilä Corporation, a global leader in energy and marine technologies, has been a key player in Tanzania’s energy sector for over 40 years.
• The Finnish multinational will showcase its innovative strategies for sustainable energy at the East Africa Energy Cooperation Summit in Arusha, Tanzania.
• CEO Thomas Bourlier reaffirms Wärtsilä’s commitment to driving East Africa’s energy growth and regional collaboration.

For over four decades, Wärtsilä Corporation has played a pivotal role in shaping Tanzania’s energy landscape, solidifying its reputation as a global leader in innovative energy solutions.

This Finnish multinational, renowned for its expertise in energy and marine technologies, is set to make its mark at the upcoming East Africa Energy Cooperation Summit in Arusha, Tanzania.

Represented by CEO and Senior Manager Thomas Bourlier, Wärtsilä aims to spotlight its legacy and future-focused strategies for driving sustainable energy development across Africa and beyond. With operations spanning diverse global markets, the company’s participation …

• African women entrepreneurs face a staggering $42 billion financing gap.
• Unfortunately, banks have more stringent loan terms for women-owned businesses.
• To counter this, Women Creating Wealth (WCW) and Afrishela Fund are providing capital funding options for women in Africa.

Financial inclusion for women in Africa remains a challenge. According to a recent report by the African Development Bank (AfDB), women in Africa running various forms of businesses are facing a staggering $42 billion financing gap.

“Traditional banks often view women-led businesses as high-risk, making loans complicated to obtain and expensive,” AfDB notes in part. Consequently, banks place harder terms for women applying for loans.

“Many women need more business and financial skills to qualify for these loans,” notes AfDB, adding that women also face more stringent legal and regulatory hurdles that further limit the potential of women-owned enterprises.

The AfDB report was shared at a recent workshop held in Tanzania …

• Authorities across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan harassed activists and government critics in spirited attempt to suppress dissent in 2024.
• Human Rights Watch says harassment, intimidation, and arrests of journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition figures intensified.
• In Kenya, senior government officials including President William Ruto threatened the courts for making decisions unfavourable to his administration.

Millions of civilians across countries in East Africa bore the brunt of human rights violations orchestrated by either government security organs or armed groups in 2024, further deteriorating the region’s respect for human rights, a new report by Washington-based Human Rights Watch states.

According to the group’s World Report 2025, authorities in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Sudan continued to harass activists and government critics in their spirited attempt to suppress dissent during the year under review.

“Armed forces and armed groups in Sudan and Ethiopia have deliberately targeted civilians and …

• Trade data shows Malawi perefers Tanga Port over Mozambique’s container terminals Beira, and Nacala.
• Tanga Port current capacity is more than 1.2 tonnes per annum.
• The harbour racks in an over $720 000 during the first quarter 2024/2025.

Tanga Port is rapidly gaining traction across East Africa and among international companies, positioning itself to potentially surpass Mtwara Port as Tanzania’s second-busiest port, according to the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA).

This growth aligns with the government’s vision of transforming Tanzania into a premier cargo and transit hub. TPA is meeting this challenge by enhancing the efficiency and capacity of its ports, ensuring they remain competitive in the region.

Currently, Kenya’s Mombasa Port stands as the largest and busiest port in East Africa, closely followed by the Port of Dar es Salaam. According to the Kenya Ports Authority, the Port of Mombasa handled 41.1 million tonnes of cargo in 2024, reflecting a …

• Tanzania aims to achieve universal access to electricity by 2030.
• The East African country will host Africa Heads of State Energy Compact Summit.
• Currently, over 90 per cent of villages in Tanzania are connected to electricity. 

Tanzania energy sector is making steady strides toward its ambitious goals, with the country reaffirming its commitment to achieving universal electricity access by 2030. This bold statement was made by Dr. Doto Biteko, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, who underscored the nation’s strategic focus on harnessing its surplus power generation to meet the energy needs of neighbouring countries.

Dr. Biteko highlighted the promising prospects of increased electricity production, particularly through key ongoing projects such as the Julius Nyerere Hydro Power Project (JNHPP), which is set to contribute 2,115MW to the national grid.

Reflecting on the discussions at the 9th Africa Energy Market Place meeting held in October, Dr. Biteko underscored that …

• The Africa Energy Summit, which is set for Jan 27-28, is part of the World Bank’s mission to light up the homes of 300 million people.
• Estimated 1,500 policymakers and leaders from around the world will converge to reshape the trajectory of Africa’s energy industry.
• The summit will examine and approve the Dar es Salaam Declaration, a statement embodying Africa’s collective vision for sustainable energy.

In a bold step toward transforming energy access across the continent, Tanzania will host the Africa Energy Summit on January 27–28 in Dar es Salaam. This industry event forms part of the World Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, an ambitious program aiming to provide electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.

Backed by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the World Bank Group, the summit promises to be a cornerstone in reshaping Africa’s energy industry. Bringing together over 1,500 high-profile executives from multilateral …

• Africa stands at crossroads, balancing harnessing of its vast fossil fuel resources against a global call to embrace renewable energy.
• Across the continent, the deployment of renewable technologies is not happening as fast as needed to reach 2030 targets.
• Innovation and policy resets to drive renewable energy transition in Africa are needed in the face of new oil finds.

The drive to embrace green energy in African economies poses a challenging dilemma: invest in emerging technologies or stick with the tried-and-tested approach of tapping into lucrative oil and gas reserves. Consider Tanzania, for example. Late last year, the country reaffirmed its commitment to oil exploration by announcing plans to further collaborate with Saudi Arabia to bolster its nascent energy sector in the wake of massive gas find.

During a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024, Tanzania Deputy Minister of Energy, Judith Kapinga, noted that the East African …