The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to leading the global fight against climate change and supporting sustainable energy's development efforts in Tanzania.

The head of energy sector, EU delegation Tanzania, Maximilian Peddret made the affirmation  yesterday in Dar es Salaam during the launch of Renewable Energy Week (REW 2025), held under the theme “Empowering Sustainability: Advancing Renewable Energy Solutions.”

He  underscored Europe’s leadership through its European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

 He also highlighted the Global Gateway strategy as part of the EU’s global commitment to sustainability.

He said  collaboration between governments, international partners,  private sector, and financiers was  key to delivering a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for Tanzania and beyond.

“The EU is a longstanding partner of Tanzania. This year marks 50 years of EU–Tanzania relations,” he said, emphasizing the depth and continuity of the partnership.

The EU’s support to Tanzania spans a wide range of energy initiatives, including investments in sustainable cooking solutions, renewable power generation, and the reduction of dependency on hydrocarbons. 

It is also contributing to major projects such as hydropower development and future rural electrification plans.

“We have a longstanding collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), including support for inter-connectors to enable regional power trade between Tanzania and neighboring countries,” he noted.

The EU’s focus, he added, also extends to enabling private sector growth, unlocking investment opportunities, and advocating for a business environment that allows clean energy enterprises to thrive.

 He encouraged international financial institutions to take interest in Tanzania and help mobilize financing for energy transformation.

“We want to facilitate that. I hope this gathering will be more than just an exchange of ideas—it should be a platform for solutions and transformative action,” he said.

Energy Commissioner from the ministry for energy  Innocent Luoga also spoke at the launch, stating that REW 2025 was organized to highlight Tanzania’s progress in renewable energy and energy efficiency, especially on the mainland.

 He said the event provided a critical space for dialogue between public and private sectors, with the goal of accelerating the shift from conventional to renewable energy sources.

“Tanzania has made tremendous strides in expanding energy access, improving reliability, and promoting sustainability.

 In 2011, only 14 percent  of the population had access to electricity. 

By 2020, that number had risen to an impressive 78.4 percent  with power extended to all villages across the country,” he explained.

Luoga cited a 2020 study by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to support the figures and noted that a new household survey is currently underway. Updated data is expected within the next two months.

He also pointed to rapid growth in Tanzania’s electricity generation capacity.

 “We should all be proud of this achievement. In 2020, our installed capacity was 2,000 megawatts. Our ambition is to scale up to 5,000 megawatts by 2025 and 10,000 megawatts by 2030,” he said

Dr. Prosper Magali, Chairperson of the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA), said that a total of 300 participants—stakeholders in the renewable energy sector—have joined the event from countries such as the USA, India, and various East African nations.

He noted that the stakeholders will engage in a range of discussions centered on renewable energy.

Dr. Magali emphasized the need to focus on affordable renewable energy technologies, highlighting that such solutions are widely available and accessible.