(Ecofin Agency) - Tanzania aims to become an energy exporter, over the next two years, state-owned power utility TANESCO revealed.

Truly, the nation plans to export 2,000 MW of electricity to Kenya, by 2018. The project costs about $300 million and will be sponsored by African Development Bank (AfDB).

According to TANESCO’s Deputy Executive Director, Deckian Mhaiki, Kenya said it needs 1,000 MW. The energy will be conveyed through a double transmission line which will be an extension of Tanzania’s main electric line. Selection process for the firm which will construct the line should start very soon.

The country is also studying a project to export power to Zambia. This one costs $500 million. Tanzania could export to other Eastern and Southern African countries.

Presently, Tanzania exports 1 MW to Kenya and imports 14 MW. According to the French Development Agency, the nation has a capacity of 1,521 MW with only 60% of this power available, most of the time, as it highly depends on hydroelectric plants (38% of installed capacities). Only 24% of urban areas have access to electricity while 7% of rural areas have it. 65% of Tanzania’s population lives in these rural areas.

Tanzania plans to boost it capacity to 10,000 MW by 2025.

Gwladys Johnson