Tanzania plans to generate 100 megawatts from geothermal energy sources in the coming seven years, official said on Wednesday.

Juliana Pallangyo, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said experts have already conducted a review and analysis of the geothermal projects surface study in Lake Ngozi and Songwe in Mbeya Region before starting to drill holes.

She said Tanzania was endowed with huge geothermal potential, approximated at 5,000MW, which was yet to be exploited.

"The government's efforts to develop this renewable, reliable and affordable energy source has come to effect after a series of serious vehicles formulated to engineer the process, including the establishment of Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited (TGDC) in December, 2013 which became operational in July, 2014," Pallangyo said.

The official added the country would continue to support and live up to her commitment to exploit geothermal resources.

According to Pallangyo, Tanzanian government had already put in place a dynamic and progressive framework for collaboration with various partners in its various activities from exploration, drilling, power production and direct use, adding that it was currently working on the geothermal legal framework.

Despite the efforts by the country to undertake geothermal resources' development, there are still some gaps which need urgent interventions in order to speed up their development.

"It is also anticipated that the geothermal energy resource will continue to play an important role in the energy mix over the medium to long-term basis," the official noted.

Pallangyo added that by considering the importance of geothermal energy to the power supply chain and its contribution to socio-economic development, the government was keen to grow the sector. Endit

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