Tanzania power sector gets $2m to prepare for private investment

Saturday 14th November 2026

By inAfrika Newsroom

A US$2 million technical assistance programme is helping Tanzania prepare for private investment in electricity generation and transmission, according to a Global Clean Power Alliance update issued at COP31 on 10 November. The World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program is supporting work on investment rules, a model for privately developed transmission and early preparation of pilot projects.

An action plan updated on 11 November covers mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. On the mainland, the plan calls for legal and financial preparation for a pilot independent transmission project. In Zanzibar it calls for support for a pilot renewable generation project.

The transmission work could include identifying three to five priority lines, including a connection with another country. The plan sets out possible assistance with feasibility and financial analysis, designing public-private partnerships and preparing procurement documents. It leaves the line selection and the terms of any project to later decisions.

The plan also calls for a review of how private transmission operators would be paid and how risks could be shared with the government. On the generation side, it proposes work on competitive tenders for renewable power, including bid documents, contracts and payment guarantees.

The UK announced a separate US$4 million regional programme through the same World Bank facility to strengthen the East Africa Power Pool. That programme will support rules for trading electricity across borders and investment in the transmission networks that connect national grids.

Have a verified news development or story? Send news submissions and supporting materials to news@inafrika.co.tz