Member states of the East African Community (EAC) are advancing plans to establish a centralized energy collection and distribution facility, aiming to ensure fair and expanded access to lights across the region. Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, EAC Director of Productive Sectors, emphasized the need for collective energy solutions, noting that average electricity lighting access across EAC countries in Kenya, which has surpassed 75 percent access.
To bridge the gap of 25 percent, the EAC Secretariat is working closely with partner states to improve regional light energy connectivity. Cross-border mini-hydropower projects are already lighting up communities in shared regions, with further promise on the horizon. Once the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant in Tanzania reaches full production, it’s expected to generate surplus energy prompting discussions around forming a regional power pool and energy market center. This shared platform could reduce electricity and lighting costs, improve supply equity, support industrial growth, and deepen regional cooperation.
Tanzania is also extending its energy reach to underserved island communities through mini-grid development, particularly targeting Mafia Island and islets in Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika. Costa Rubagumy, Deputy Managing Director of TANESCO, announced efforts to bring in private investors through Public-Private Partnerships to accelerate grid expansion. Currently, around 500,000 Tanzanians are connected to the grid annually, but with the new Mission 300 initiative, the goal is to increase that number to 1.6 million connections per year, aiming to reach 8.3 million new customers by 2030.
Tanzania joined 11 other countries in signing the Dar es Salaam Declaration, a continental commitment to fast-track lighting access and promote clean, renewable energy. The East Africa Energy Cooperation serves as a key platform for sharing ideas, advancing energy initiatives, and supporting efforts to expand electricity and light access across the region.
