DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango on Wednesday urged African countries to spearhead investment in the exploitation of geothermal resources and hasten their transition from costly fossil fuels.

Opening the 10th African Rift Geothermal Conference (ARGeo-C10) in the port city of Dar es Salaam, Mpango urged African countries to devise and undertake regional geothermal exploration programs.

"As opposed to fossil fuels, which lead to high carbon dioxide emission, geothermal energy is a clean and sustainable source and has the potential to reduce our dependence on hydrocarbons significantly," he said.

Mpango said the world is facing a critical energy supply shortage and the soaring cost of fossil fuels. He quoted the 2024 report of the World Energy Outlook, saying projections for global electricity demand are 6 percent or 2,200 terawatt-hours by 2035, indicating a looming global energy shortage.

In this regard, he said, the government of Tanzania decided to accelerate the development and utilization of geothermal energy in July 2014 by establishing the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company. The company was mandated to oversee geothermal development in the country, enhancing energy security and expanding energy access while protecting the environment.

Mpango said Tanzania has completed the initial stages of exploring geothermal resources in five sites along the rift valley and has started drilling at one of the sites, located at Lake Ngozi in the western arm of the rift, to confirm availability.

Running from Wednesday to Friday, the main conference of the ARGeo-C10 is themed "Accelerating Geothermal Resources to Net Zero Emissions." Enditem

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