DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has clarified that its decision to import 100MW of electricity from Ethiopia for the Northern Zone is a strategic and cost-effective measure aimed at ensuring reliable power supply, reducing outages and minimising transmission costs.
Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Eng Felchesmi Mramba told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the imported electricity, sourced from Ethiopia via Kenya at the Namanga interconnection, would costs 7.7 cents US Dollars per unit, making it more affordable than some domestic generation sources.
“We pay for the power at Namanga, which is cheaper than transmitting it from Tanzania’s generation hub in the south,” said Mramba explaining that the approach avoids the high transmission costs and energy losses associated with transmitting power from Tanzania’s southern generation hubs to the north.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on Sunday that the government will import electricity from Ethiopia for the Northern Zone region to address persistent power supply challenges, particularly in the Northern Zone.
Mramba noted that electricity trade between countries is common, with Tanzania already importing power in some regions citing Rukwa which get electricity from Zambia, Kagera from Uganda and Tanga from Kenya.
Tanzania’s national grid primarily generates power in the southeastern regions, requiring long-distance transmission to the north, which results in significant energy losses.
The Ethiopia import deal is expected to reduce outages in the north and improve supply for homes and businesses, he said.
Furthermore, countries like Burundi, Rwanda and Zambia are seeking to purchase electricity from Tanzania at higher rates than what Tanzania pays to Ethiopia.
The ongoing TanzaniaZambia transmission project, currently 50 per cent complete, will facilitate power flow from Tanzania’s southern regions, supporting markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Malawi upon completion. Despite importing power, Tanzania remains a net electricity exporter.
The imports are primarily aimed at enhancing grid stability, not addressing shortages. Tanzania is a member of regional power markets, including the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP), which promote cross-border electricity trade. Recently, Tanzania hosted an energy summit attended by regional leaders, highlighting electricity trade’s role in energy security, cost reduction and diversification.
Globally, power exchange is a standard practice and a key component of Tanzania’s long-term energy strategy. Additionally, as a member of the North Africa Power Grid, Tanzania benefits from lower electricity costs when buying from neighbouring countries.
The government emphasised that importing power is not new, as Tanzania has done so for years. Meanwhile, experts have praised the decision to import electricity from Ethiopia via Kenya, saying it will cut transmission costs and mitigate power shortages in the Northern Region, which includes Kilimanjaro and Arusha.
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Former ACT Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe clarified that cross-border power trade involves pooling electricity in a regional grid, with trade occurring between surplus and deficit countries.
“Tanzania does not physically transport electricity from Ethiopia like carrying a sack of potatoes on a truck. Instead, it takes its allocated share at the border,” he explained, comparing the process to mobile money transfers.
Economist Dr Isaac Safari of Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) told the `Daily News’ that power imports support regional integration by allowing countries to share resources efficiently.
Sourcing power from Namanga, he said, would reduce transmission costs and improve supply in the north.
“This is an economically sound decision, considering that importing low-cost electricity helps lower operational expenses. The world is interconnected, and borders should not prevent resourcesharing for development,” Dr Safari said.
He also highlighted Tanzania’s potential to leverage other resources, such as ports and tourism, to boost regional cooperation.
To address misconceptions, he urged the Energy Ministry to educate the public on how power pools work and why imports are necessary despite local surplus generation.
Power pools are networks of power plants that balance electricity supply and demand at regional, national, or local levels. Public governance expert, Dr Adam Mnyavanu of the Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) noted that Tanzania could also export its excess power to Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) members like Mozambique.
“The pools help lower transmission costs, especially in large countries or border areas. This approach allows reliable supply in distant areas. The government should provide detailed explanations to address public concerns,” he said.
Former Lands Minister Prof Anna Tibaijuka supported the decision, saying that connecting to Kenya’s grid allows Tanzania to diversify its energy sources.
“A sole reliance on the national grid could lead to total blackouts in case of emergencies,” she posted on her X account. “Energy security is national security
