Tanzania’s minister of energy and minerals has launched a new sustainable energy agenda to attract sustainable investment into the country
Sospeter Muhongo is pursuing the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Action Agenda and Investment Portfolio as Tanzania's response to the UN's seventh Sustainable Development Goal to ensure access to energy for all.
The Action Agenda was launched at a workshop attended by the EU Ambassador to Tanzania, Roeland Van De Geer; UN resident coordinator for Tanzania, Alvaro Rodriguez; and the AfDB’s resident representative in Tanzania, Tonia Kandiero.
The AfDB said the agenda was "critical" for Tanzania to attract investment in the future.
Speaking at the launch event on 14 July, Muhongo said, “The population is increasing; we have to provide power accessibility. So you can see that the task ahead of us is tough,” he said, adding that “if we are wise enough, we are supposed to plan for the 87.6mn population because the increased population requires us to make sure that we create jobs, wealth and services."
He added, "For me, I have been involved in this initiative for years since its beginning in the UN; so I find it fit for Tanzania."
Discussions were held with the Rural Energy Agency, the Tanzania Traditional Energy Development and Environment Organization, the Tanzania Renewable Energy Association, Power Africa, EU Delegation, DFID, WWF and the National Gender and Sustainable Energy Network.
