Energy in Tanzania

Most electricity in Tanzania is generated using gas; hydropower is also a significant source of power. Tanzania has a capacity of 1,521 MW with only 60% of this power available, most of the time, as it highly depends on hydroelectric plants (38% of installed capacities). Only 24% of urban areas have access to electricity while 7% of rural areas have it. 65% of Tanzania’s population lives in these rural areas. Though the country's supply of electricity nearly doubled between 2005 and 2011, only about 20% of Tanzanians are on the electrical grid. The electrical supply varies, particularly when droughts disrupt hydropower electric generation; rolling blackouts are implemented as necessary. Nearly a quarter of electricity generated is lost because of poor transmission infrastructure. The unreliability of the electrical supply has hindered the development of Tanzanian industry.