TANZANIA is working to prioritise alternative sources of energy like wind, solar and biogas alongside natural gas and hydropower, the government has declared.

Dr Doto Biteko, the deputy prime minister and Energy minister, made this assurance in Dar es Salaam yesterday, in talks with a delegation of the German chamber of commerce and energy sector stakeholders, led by Thomas Terstegen, the resident ambassador.

He expressed gratitude to Germany for energy sector contributions especially for electricity projects, noting that energy was a big agenda in Tanzania, starting with energy security and energy availability.

This is outlined in energy sector policy of 2015, where the government projected an installed capacity of 10,000 Megawatts by 2030, he explained, elaborating that President Samia Suluhu Hassan wishes to see different stakeholders and foreign companies take up the energy shift agenda.

There are opportunities for investment in projects already started but lack funds for their implementation, he said, affirming that foreign companies can form joint ventures with local private sector firms for the purpose.

Increase in electricity demand for Tanzania stands at about 10 to 15 percent per year as expansion of economic activities and population increase push up the demand.

The more reliable sources of electricity in the country are chiefly water which contributes 39 percent, natural gas at 56.1 percent, heavy furnace oil at 4.3 percent and other sources a marginal 0.5 percent, he said.

The envoy said that Tanzania has long-term cooperation with Germany in the energy sector, with expectations of financing project implementation to enhance the energy sector to enhance economic growth.

The meeting was organised to enable the private sector and energy stakeholders to generate comprehension of available opportunities and how Germany can facilitate their being taken up.

Maren Diale Schellschmidt of the Africa Department at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and head of delegation, was accompanied by officials of wings of German business and non-governmental organisations, fielding energy sector stakeholders.

Germany has one of the most powerful renewable energy lobbies in Europe and has locally focused on hydropower development, observers noted.