Tanzania to Import Ethiopian Electricity for Grid Stability

Tanzania Justifies Plan to Import Electricity from Ethiopia

Dar es Salaam, March 10, 2025 – The Tanzanian government has defended its decision to import electricity from Ethiopia via Kenya, citing technical and economic benefits that will help resolve persistent power shortages in the Northern Zone. These outages have led to economic losses exceeding Sh32 billion annually.

Speaking at the inauguration of a water project in Kilimanjaro, President Samia Suluhu Hassan acknowledged public concerns over the plan but emphasized that it was a well-calculated move based on energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

She explained that transmitting electricity from the South-Eastern region to the Northern Zone has resulted in substantial energy losses, making local supply unreliable. By sourcing power from Ethiopia through Kenya, the government aims to stabilize the grid and reduce inefficiencies.

Government Defends Energy Import Plan

Hours after the president’s remarks, Government Spokesperson Gerson Msigwa released a statement reinforcing the government’s stance. He confirmed that the Northern Zone primarily receives electricity from the South-Eastern region, a system that has led to frequent outages due to long-distance transmission losses.

"The importation of electricity from Ethiopia through Kenya will help eliminate power interruptions and significantly reduce energy losses during transmission," Msigwa stated.

He further explained that Tanzania is a member of the North Africa Power Pool, which enables regional electricity trading at competitive rates. The imported power is expected to be more affordable than certain domestic generation sources.

Regional Power Integration Strategy

The government also highlighted that importing electricity from neighboring countries is not a new approach. In the past, Tanzania has relied on Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya to supply electricity to its border regions, including Rukwa, Kagera, and Tanga. This strategy has reinforced the national grid and provided backup energy solutions.

Moreover, Tanzania has plans to export electricity to neighboring nations through regional power market arrangements. The initiative aligns with commitments made during the recent Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, where East African leaders agreed to strengthen cross-border electricity trade.

"The move to import electricity aligns with Tanzania’s broader strategy to ensure a stable and cost-effective power supply while addressing grid inefficiencies," the statement concluded.