Tanzania is rewriting Africa’s energy playbook and doing it without the noise. While many African governments are locked in cycles of grand declarations and under delivery, Tanzania has quietly laid down one of the most strategic energy roadmaps on the continent. The country’s 2025/2026 National Development Plan outlines an ambitious transformation that is not only about lighting homes, but about powering economic emancipation.
At the heart of this plan are 27 priority energy projects, with a bold target of adding 4,915 megawatts of new generation capacity. This is no small feat in a region where power outages are still part of daily life. Tanzania plans to build over 9,350 kilometres of new transmission lines, connecting 26 regions to the national grid. The ultimate goal? Achieve 85% national electricity access in just a few years.
This is not just another infrastructure announcement, it is a signal of intent. And it carries a message for the rest of Africa: energy access is not a gift to be begged for. It is the backbone of sovereignty.
The Power of Power
Electricity is not just about turning on lights. It is the foundation of modern development. Schools can’t function without power. Hospitals can’t operate essential machines. Small businesses stall. Agriculture lags. Even fintech, which is booming across Africa, requires stable power for servers, mobile devices, and communication infrastructure.
Tanzania’s plan reflects a deep understanding of this reality. Where many African countries have approached energy access as a donor-driven social good, Tanzania is treating it as a critical economic right. This marks a paradigm shift, one that could define Africa’s future competitiveness.
Building Out and Building Smart
What sets Tanzania apart is not just the size of its investment but the quality of its approach. The plan doesn’t merely throw money at the grid. It demonstrates foresight, an understanding that modern energy systems must be resilient, efficient, and forward-looking.
Key elements include:
- Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for transport: Tanzania is pushing for CNG to power public and private vehicles, reducing dependence on costly fuel imports and cutting urban emissions.
- Tapping domestic gas reserves: Tanzania is leveraging its own natural gas assets to fuel the transition, a move that not only cuts costs but strengthens energy independence.
- Accelerated rural electrification: Often, African energy strategies focus on cities while rural communities are left in the dark. Tanzania’s blueprint prioritizes equitable development, recognizing that leaving rural areas behind only widens national inequality.
Also read: How Batteries Can Help Renewables Reach Full Potential in Africa
This layered, intentional planning is a rare departure from “copy-paste” policies often borrowed from Western development handbooks. It is not charity-driven. It is ambition meeting engineering.
Regional Implications: A Model for Africa?
Tanzania’s energy leap is not just a national win, it is a regional wake-up call. For decades, Sub-Saharan Africa has struggled with energy poverty, with over 600 million people lacking reliable electricity. Yet, many countries continue to rely on external aid, underpriced subsidies, and fragmented energy planning.
In contrast, Tanzania’s model is rooted in strategic autonomy. By investing in both power generation and grid expansion, the country is positioning itself for industrial expansion. Manufacturing, agro-processing, digital services, all these sectors need consistent power. Tanzania’s policymakers are clearly betting that electricity is the next catalyst for GDP growth.
Other nations should take note. Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, all energy-hungry economies, have suffered from disjointed energy rollouts, poor grid maintenance, or over-reliance on fossil fuel imports. Tanzania’s blend of homegrown gas, rural equity, and smart infrastructure could become a replicable blueprint.
Africa’s Energy Crisis A Problem of Priorities
Despite abundant sunshine, rivers, wind corridors, and gas reserves, Africa still lags behind in energy access. Part of the problem lies in how leaders frame the issue. Too often, energy is seen as a social development issue, not an economic accelerator.
This mentality trickles down into policy decisions:
- Power utilities are underfunded and mismanaged.
- National budgets prioritize short-term political wins over long-term infrastructure.
- Energy ministries are reactive, not visionary.
Tanzania’s plan flips this script. It views energy as a pillar of national strength, just as critical as security or healthcare. This is a powerful lesson for Africa’s youth-heavy, urbanizing populations, where demand for jobs and services is rising sharply.
Economic Multiplier Effects: What This Means in Practice
The impact of Tanzania’s strategy could be transformative:
- Job Creation: Thousands of construction, engineering, and maintenance jobs will be needed to deliver new generation projects and grid lines.
- Industrial Growth: Stable power will attract manufacturing industries, helping Tanzania reduce imports and boost exports.
- Digital Economy Expansion: From fintech to e-learning to telemedicine, digital infrastructure thrives on electricity. Tanzania’s push will power digital inclusion.
- Climate Benefits: By leaning on gas and CNG, and later renewables, Tanzania can cut emissions and avoid coal dependence, a win for global climate goals.
Also read: Kenya Tops Africa’s Electricity Regulatory Index What It Means for the Future of Energy in Africa
It’s worth asking: Why isn’t this story front-page news across Africa? Why aren’t think tanks, media outlets, and policymakers highlighting Tanzania’s energy blueprint as a continental case study?
The answer may lie in the very nature of Tanzania’s political style, quiet, measured, and focused on delivery rather than display. But that doesn’t make the progress any less significant.
Africa doesn’t need more declarations. It needs execution. Tanzania is showing what execution looks like.
