Vice President Mpango Calls for Clean Energy Investments.

Vice President Mpango Advocates for Investment in Clean Energy

Dar es Salaam, March 5, 2025
Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr. Philip Mpango, has called for the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa to reinvest the funds generated from current energy sources into clean energy projects. He emphasized that this approach would allow nations to align with global energy transition efforts, shifting from fossil fuels to cleaner energy alternatives.

In his remarks on March 5, 2025, during the opening of the 11th East African Petroleum and Gas Conference at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, Dr. Mpango highlighted the importance of transitioning to clean energy. He pointed out that, as much of Sub-Saharan Africa continues to rely on outdated and polluting energy sources such as coal and oil, the funds raised from these sources should be channeled into developing clean energy infrastructure.

“We must invest the proceeds from current energy sources into clean energy projects. This will accelerate our alignment with the global transition to cleaner energy,” said Dr. Mpango. He noted that financial resources remain a major challenge for these countries, and leveraging these existing funds could facilitate the shift to clean energy.

In line with the government's strategy, Tanzania aims to ensure that by 2034, at least 80% of its population will be using clean cooking energy. Tanzania is currently a leader in clean cooking energy and has been actively working on strategies to further this cause.

Dr. Mpango also stressed the role of political technology in advancing clean energy. He emphasized that the technologies used for this transition must not inadvertently generate harmful emissions. He remarked that the oil and gas sector has made significant contributions to the energy mix, but that advancements in technology have created new, more sustainable energy options.

“For the benefit of future generations, policies and regulations should ensure that the proceeds from fossil fuels are reinvested in clean energy,” he said, urging African nations to push forward with mixed energy strategies and to foster greater collaboration between the public and private sectors.

He also advocated for continued education and awareness campaigns to help build a shared understanding of the importance of energy transitions.

Collaborative Energy Transformation in East Africa

Dr. Doto Biteko, Tanzania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, also spoke at the event, highlighting that with economic growth, energy demands are rising. He emphasized that Tanzania has been investing heavily to increase its energy availability, especially in natural gas resources.

Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Ministry Secretary, Mr. Opiyo Wandayi, shared insights on the country's investments in energy infrastructure, highlighting scientific research to identify areas for clean energy investment. He encouraged East African countries to work together to tap into regional energy opportunities.

Uganda’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Ruth Ssentamu, acknowledged the need for financial investment in electricity infrastructure. She expressed her admiration for Tanzania’s leadership in clean cooking energy, particularly under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. She also celebrated the start of the oil pipeline project from Hoima to Tanga as a regional effort to secure reliable energy sources.

“We must collaborate, as this will bring about meaningful energy transformations,” said Dr. Ssentamu, reinforcing the importance of shared efforts in realizing the region’s energy goals.