THE European Union (EU) has committed over 3trn/- (euro 990m) to Tanzania’s energy sector under its Global Gateway Initiative, placing renewable energy at the heart of its partnership with the country.

Christine Grau, the EU resident ambassador, said in a statement at an event to mark Europe Day 2025 in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, similarly marking 50 years of EU-Tanzania cooperation and 25 years of EU-African Union relations. The high-profile event brought together Tanzanian and EU officials, diplomats of various EU and EAC partner states, youth leaders and civil society organisations.

The funding will support a wide range of projects aimed at expanding access to clean, reliable and affordable energy, a cornerstone for economic uplift and climate resilience, she stated.

This commitment has a euro 191.9m component (565bn/-) from the EU to support clean energy access and cross-border integration, where the key investments include the Kakono Hydropower Plant, valued at euro 299m (880bn/-).

The EU will contribute euro 36m (106bn/-) and co-finance the Zambia and Uganda interconnector projects valued at euro 604.4m (1.8trn/), the statement indicated, affirming that beyond large-scale infrastructure, the EU is funding access to affordable and clean cooking solutions.

This is an often overlooked area in energy planning but critical for environmental and public health, it said, pointing at euro 30m (88bn/-) already invested and a new euro 20m (59bn/-) programme set to be launched.

The initiatives are intended to reduce reliance on firewood and charcoal and promote safer, greener alternatives across communities, while the energy programme also targets strategic sectors like agriculture and mining, it stated.

Reliable power is essential to boosting productivity and attracting investment, in line with the country’s long-term development blueprint, Vision 2050, which places climate resilience and green growth at the centre of national policy, it further noted.

The EU envoy asserted at the event that this investment is symbolic in nurturing the EU-Tanzania partnership, built on shared values and long-term development goals.

“This is not just funding—it’s a shared commitment to a greener, more resilient and inclusive future,” she said, underlining that the support is aligned with Tanzania’s Vision 2050 and focused on real, lasting impact in people’s lives.

Over the past seven years, EU support valued at euro 65m (192bn/-) has helped connect more than a third of Tanzania’s villages to electricity, bringing light and opportunity to over one million rural residents, she specified.

A new phase of cooperation is already being developed for 2026, targeted at supporting energy access, climate adaptation, youth employment, good governance and sustainable trade, she elaborated.

Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, the Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation minister, welcomed the announcement, noting the EU’s efforts to align with Tanzania’s national priorities.

The investment would significantly enhance energy access across the country, drive industrial growth and improve livelihoods, he stated.

In a powerful symbol of inclusive development, Europe Day guests met with young Tanzanian women pursuing careers in sustainable energy engineering.

The students are recipients of scholarships funded jointly by the EU, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Irish embassy under an initiative supporting Tanzania’s first-ever energy efficiency action plan, he said.

Since November 2024, the number of scholarships awarded has grown to 35, advancing gender equality in STEM fields and helping to shape the country’s next generation of energy leaders, he added.