The Citizen Reporters
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s energy sector is heading for good tidings, going by the announcement issued yesterday to the effect that the country will start producing geothermal power in the near future.
Geothermal power refers to electricity that is produced by harnessing internal heat of the earth. Further prospects of more electricity came from the launch of the board of director for a joint venture company, which seeks to produce power from coal as at the Mchuchuma and Liganga fields.
While the geothermal project targets at producing 100MW within the next two years, a foreign company, Tanzania China International Mineral Resources Limited (TCIMR), plans to produce 300MW by the year 2014. Both projects would be implemented in Mbeya Region. While TCIMR is a joint venture between National Development Corporation (NDC) and a Chinese company, Sichuan Hongda, the geothermal project would be carried out by Geothermal Power (Tanzania), a local company.
Information released in Dar es Salaam yesterday said that TCIMR plans to start exploration work after six months. While China Development Bank has provided a $2.4 billion loan for the project, the company itself has made available $600 million, making it the single largest investment venture in East Africa.Geothermal Power (Tanzania) Limited chairman Graeme Robertson told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the company has initially invested $5 million (about Sh8 billion) for the project.
