The European Union marks 50 years in Tanzania

By Guardian Correspondent , The Guardian

Published at 03:45 PM May 23 2025

Photo: File

Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.

The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Tanzania and the Embassies of EU Member States today celebrated Europe Day 2025, marking 50 years of partnership between the EU and Tanzania, and 25 years of EU - African Union relations. The event underscored the reliable and growing strategic cooperation between the EU and Tanzania.

This year’s Europe Day was celebrated focusing on Renewable Energy and the EU support in this area. Green Energy provision plays a central role in Tanzania’s sustainable development, economic growth, and climate resilience. The celebrations brought together Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, ambassadors of EU Member States, senior government officials, civil society, youth, media, and members of the diplomatic community.

In her remarks, EU Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Christine Grau, highlighted the depth of the EU-Tanzania partnership:

“Our partnership is evolving into a mature and strategic collaboration based on mutual interests and shared prosperity. We are not just donors—we are partners, and we are here to stay. Through the Global Gateway Strategy, we are supporting Tanzania’s ambitions in renewable energy, digitalisation, value addition, and sustainable infrastructure.”

Honourable Kombo welcomed the EU’s continued support, including in the energy sector, and commended the EU for aligning its cooperation with Tanzania’s Vision 2050.

EU Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Christine Grau, Hon. Kombo are joined by the energy scholars who are beneficiaries of scholarships provided by the EU.

Under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, Team Europe has committed EUR 990 million (over TZS 3 trillion) to support Tanzania’s energy sector. This includes a direct commitment of EUR 191.9 million (TZS 565 billion) by the EU to support clean energy access and cross-border integration under the Global Gateway’s climate and energy pillar. Key investments include the Kakono Hydropower Plant, valued at EUR 299 million (TZS 880 billion), with an EU contribution of EUR 36 million (TZS 106 billion), as well as co-financing for the Zambia and Uganda interconnector projects, together valued at EUR 604.4 million (TZS 1.8 trillion).

The EU is also supporting affordable and clean cooking solutions with an existing investment of EUR 30 million (TZS 88 billion), and a new EUR 20 million (TZS 59 billion) regional programme to scale up clean cooking and green energy solutions. Further investment in energy infrastructure to support Tanzania’s agriculture and mining sectors is in the pipeline.

EU Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Christine Grau delivers her speech.

The partnership goes beyond infrastructure. Europe Day guests met young Tanzanian women pursuing careers in the energy sector—beneficiaries of scholarships supported by the EU, UNDP, and the Embassy of Ireland. In November 2024, 25 scholarships in sustainable energy engineering were awarded, bringing the total to 35. This initiative, part of Tanzania’s first Energy Efficiency Action Plan, promotes gender equality in STEM and supports a more inclusive green transition.

Ambassador Grau highlighted that, over the past seven years, EU support of EUR 65 million (TZS 192 billion) has helped to connect more than one-third of Tanzania’s villages to electricity, improving energy access for over one million rural people. Looking ahead, the EU is preparing a new phase of cooperation for 2026, aligned with Tanzania’s Vision 2050, focusing on climate resilience, sustainable growth, youth employment, and democratic governance. The EU will continue to be Tanzania’s leading partner in trade, investment, and development, advocating for peace, prosperity, and inclusive progress.