Powering Africa: Tanzania summit begins in Dar today

DAILY NEWS Reporter

President John Pombe of URT

ABOUT 200 key global power investors are in

Dar es Salaam for two-day Powering Africa: Tanzania summit which kicks off the city today. The investors would be meeting government officers and other decision makers to explore investment opportunities within Tanzania’s energy and industrial sectors, the organiser of the event, UK based EnergyNet Limited said in statement.

A number of local and interna31 tional banks, power developers, technology providers and engineering and construction companies have confirmed to attend the meeting, which will feature number of networking opportunities such as coffee breaks, lunches and site visits for all participants to build strong professional relationships for the future.

Participants in the summit will discuss the country’s potential to attract private investment and encourage the development of IPPs and provide an update on the country’s 2014 -2025 reform plan.

They will also explore procurement models and take a look at some of the critical infrastructure projects which will contribute to realising the country’s development goals.

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.

“Tanzania is simply a massive opportunity for investors. The government remains focused on up-scalling the public sector to deliver the projects required to increase energy access for all Tanzanians,” Veronica Bolton-Smith, Programme Manager at EnergyNet, commented.

“This methodical approach has seen surge in service companies in the last 18 months, which suggests there’s going to be a spike in energy sector activity-of course most of these stakeholders are attending the meeting so we welcome everyone contributing to the sector.”

Confirmed speakers includes Kenneth Mutaonga, Energy Sector Manager, President’s Delivery Bureau (PDB), Felchesmi Mramba, Managing Director, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), Felix Ngamlagosi, Director General, Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) and Eng Kupuulya Angentile Musomba, Acting General Manager, Gas Supply Company (GASCO). Tanzania is attracting global attention after string of natural gas discoveries in Lindi and Mtwara regions.

The newly found wealth 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 (tcf), of recoverable natural gas reserves off its southern coastline which has attracted the attention of a number of major energy companies, including Norway’s state-owned Statoil, Britain’s BG and Ophir Energy and U.S. energy giant ExxonMobil, which are collaborating with the government over constructing an LNG plant.