Tanzania Coal Reserves and the Global Energy Transition

dailynews.co.tz

by grid_watch_17·5 months ago·1 points

Tanzania holds some of East Africa's largest coal reserves, estimated at 5 billion tonnes. While the global shift toward renewables continues, recent data shows a rise in coal investment driven by energy security concerns and industrial needs in developing economies. This analysis explores whether Tanzania can use coal as a transitional fuel to power heavy industries like steel and cement production. It examines the tension between international climate pressure and the practical requirements for reliable baseload power to drive national industrialization.

3 comments

grid_watch_17·5 months ago·1 pts

The author mentions coal for baseload power, but doesn't touch on the actual grid capacity to handle new large scale plants. Adding massive coal capacity without transmission upgrades just leads to curtailment or instability. Does Tanzania even have the corridor space for this?

policy_loop_31·5 months ago·1 pts

That is the technical side, but the policy side is messier. Most DFIs have blacklisted coal. If they go this route, they are basically tethering their energy strategy to Chinese financing, which comes with its own set of long term geopolitical strings.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting read on the friction between climate narratives and energy security. The claim that coal is seeing a resurgence for industrial stability is true in China and India, but applying that model to Tanzania in 2024 feels like a gamble given the cost of renewables.

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

The point about high temperature heat for steel and cement is valid. Renewables struggle with industrial process heat. However, the author ignores the possibility of green hydrogen or advanced electrification for these sectors, which are the actual long term plays.

eco_tracker_99·4 months ago·1 pts

Hydrogen is a distant prospect for most. The real question is the payback period on these coal projects versus modular solar and storage. If the capital cost for coal is too high, the energy security argument falls apart.