How will Tanzania’s power sector evolve under new President

STAFF WRITER 

PRESIDENT John Magufuli has been elected to lead Tanzania forward at the time its energy sector continues to attract global attention due to its unique transformative potential and attractive investment opportunity.

The recent discovery of natural gas reserves in Lindi and Mtwara Region has put the East African country firmly on the World energy map as a hot spot for the global energy industry and boosted the potential of the country to become a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), exporter in the future.

Tanzania is estimated to have about 55 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas reserves off its southern coastline, which has attracted the attention of a number of major energy companies, including Norway’s stateowned Statoil, Britain’s BG, Ophir Energy and U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil, which are collaborating with the Tanzanian government over constructing an LNG plant. But what will Magufuli’s victory mean for Tanzania’s energy sector?

What will be the legacy of ‘The Bulldozer’ in the face of the country’s challenges? What approach will he take to encourage investments into power and infrastructure projects? and what can the International investment community expect? These and other questions will be discussed at The Powering Africa: Tanzania Investment Conference that will take place at the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro Hotel from 3-4 December 2015.

This meeting will focus on the future of Tanzania’s power sector following the recent elections, identifying opportunities for investment and building crucial relationships between private and public players in the market.

It will discuss the country’s potential to attract private investment and encourage the development of IPPs, provide an update on the country’s 2014 -2025 reform plan, explore procurement models and take a look at some of the critical infrastructure projects which will contribute to realising the country’s development goals.

It is expected that the meeting will provide detailed insights into the investment opportunities in Tanzania’s power sector in 2015, from credible decision-makers within both the public and private sectors. Both international and local investors will attend to drive forward the industry and explore opportunities for valuable partnerships.

Two areas investors are eager to learn about are what approach the new President will take towards the development of Tanzania’s natural gas reserves and the construction of a $15 billion Liquefied Gas terminal.

According to Amy Offord, the Marketing Manager of Energynet Limited, which organises the conference, confirmed speakers at the conference includes, January Makamba, Member Of Parliament (MP), Bumbuli Constituency in Tanga Region, Felchesmi Mramba, Managing Director, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) and Dr. Babu Ram, Chief Power Engineer, African Development Bank (AfDB).

Others are David Ross, Managing Director, Statera Capital, Paul Hinks, CEO, Symbion Power, Alberto Barsotti, Aeroderivative Sub-Saharan Africa Sales Director, GE Power & Water, Nigel Whittaker, Managing Director, Songas and Lutengano Mwakaheysa, Director General, Rural Energy Agency (REA).

“Recent confirmations from January Makamba, Member of Parliament (MP), Bumbuli Constituency in Tanga Region, representatives from the President’s Delivery Bureau (PDB), the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Gas Supply Company (GASCO) demonstrates the on-going commitment from the public sector towards accelerating energy access in Tanzania as a springboard for economic development,” she said.

To date, 37 unique companies from the private sector are confirmed to attend including Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB), Standard Chartered Bank, Mitsubishi Corporation, Citibank Tanzania Limited, BVI Consulting, Liquefied NG Tanzania Limited, Statoil and Sunfunder.

The agenda will focus on topics such as Tanzania’s commitment to energy reform, sector growth and gas development, procurement strategies for Tanzania’s public sector companies and the importance of electricity for agriculture and captive power industries.

Following the recent $5 million worth of funding from the IFC enabling Tanzania to explore mini-grid power capability, the programme will also look at the options for delivering renewable energy to Tanzania and the opportunities for solar, wind, geothermal and hydro power energy development.

Organisers have confirmed a registration discount was available for ‘Daily News’ readers. To find out how to be involved, contact amy. offord@energynet.co.uk quoting the code TANZDN1