New scheme powers electric cooking, EV transition

The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) has launched a significant nationwide clean energy programme, introducing affordable electric cooking stoves and rolling out 50 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This initiative aligns with Tanzania's National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024-2034) and its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, aiming to achieve 80% clean cooking access by 2034 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The programme, supported by an agreement with AUTEL Intelligent Technology Corp. Ltd., navigates existing energy sector regulations, including the Electricity Act, 2008, and the oversight of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), while addressing emerging legal and policy considerations for e-mobility and clean energy adoption.

Tanzania's energy landscape is undergoing a transformative shift with the recent launch of a comprehensive clean energy programme by the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO). This initiative, which includes a nationwide scheme for affordable electric cooking stoves and the deployment of 50 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, marks a pivotal step towards modernising the country's energy consumption patterns. The programme is a direct response to national priorities aimed at enhancing energy access, mitigating climate change impacts, and fostering sustainable development across the United Republic of Tanzania.

The strategic importance of this programme cannot be overstated. It directly supports the ambitious targets set forth in Tanzania's National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024-2034), which seeks to achieve 80 percent access to clean cooking energy by 2034, moving away from traditional biomass fuels that contribute to deforestation and health issues. Concurrently, the rollout of EV charging infrastructure positions Tanzania at the forefront of the e-mobility transition in East Africa, complementing the government's broader climate change commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30-35% by 2030. This article will explore the legal and regulatory framework underpinning this initiative, examining its implications for energy sector stakeholders and the broader legal environment in Tanzania.

The Tanzanian energy sector is primarily governed by the Electricity Act, 2008 (Cap. 131), which provides for the generation, transmission, distribution, supply, and use of electric energy. As a state-owned entity, TANESCO is the principal utility responsible for these operations across mainland Tanzania, including selling bulk power to Zanzibar. Oversight of the sector falls under the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), established by the EWURA Act, Cap 414 of 2001 (as amended), which is mandated with the technical and economic regulation of electricity, petroleum, natural gas, and water utilities.

National energy policy is guided by the National Energy Policy 2015, which aims to provide adequate, reliable, and affordable energy sustainably, with a key focus on diversifying the energy mix and promoting renewable energy sources. This policy explicitly encourages alternatives to wood for cooking to reduce deforestation and improve health outcomes. Furthermore, Tanzania has ratified the Paris Agreement and submitted its NDCs, committing to significant greenhouse gas emission reductions and emphasizing clean cooking and transport as critical mitigation sectors. The National Climate Change Response Strategy (2021-2026) also provides a framework for pursuing low-emission development pathways.

TANESCO's new clean energy programme operates within a well-established, albeit evolving, legal and regulatory landscape. The utility's mandate to generate, transmit, distribute, and supply electricity provides the foundational legal basis for its involvement in both electric cooking and EV charging infrastructure. However, the specific modalities of the programme, particularly the affordable installment scheme for electric cooking stoves and the deployment of EV charging stations, introduce several regulatory considerations.

For electric cooking, the initiative directly supports the National Clean Cooking Strategy (2024-2034), which aims for widespread adoption of clean cooking solutions. While EWURA regulates electricity tariffs, ensuring cost-reflective pricing, it also employs mechanisms like lifeline blocks and subsidies to enhance affordability for consumers. The installment scheme for stoves will likely require careful structuring to comply with consumer protection laws and potentially new regulations or guidelines from EWURA regarding appliance financing and energy efficiency standards, which the National Clean Cooking Strategy aims to develop by June 2025.

The rollout of EV charging stations presents a newer regulatory frontier. While Tanzania is actively developing a national EV policy framework to regulate importation, registration, and usage, a comprehensive policy was still under development as of late 2024. Recent budget announcements for 2026/2027, however, have introduced significant tax incentives, including reduced import duties on EVs (from 25% to 10%) and VAT exemptions on imported EV charging equipment, signaling strong governmental support. EWURA's role will be crucial in establishing technical standards for chargers, tariff structures for EV charging services, and ensuring grid readiness to support increased demand. The agreement with AUTEL Intelligent Technology Corp. Ltd. for the implementation of these projects would also be subject to the Public Procurement Act, 2023 (Cap 410 R.E:2022), which governs public procurement processes in Tanzania, and potentially the Public-Private Partnership Act, Cap 103 of 2019, if structured as a PPP.

Furthermore, the environmental implications of the programme are significant. By promoting electric cooking and EVs, TANESCO contributes to Tanzania's NDCs and the National Climate Change Response Strategy (2021-2026), which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. The shift away from biomass for cooking directly addresses deforestation and associated health risks. Legal practitioners must monitor the development of specific environmental regulations and standards that may arise from the scaling up of these clean energy technologies, particularly concerning battery disposal and recycling for EVs.

TANESCO's clean energy programme represents a proactive and integrated approach to addressing Tanzania's energy and environmental challenges, aligning with national development goals and international climate commitments. For legal practitioners, this initiative highlights several critical areas of focus. Firstly, understanding the evolving regulatory landscape under EWURA, particularly concerning tariff methodologies for new services like EV charging and consumer protection frameworks for appliance financing, will be paramount.

Secondly, the contractual frameworks underpinning partnerships, such as the one with AUTEL, will need careful scrutiny to ensure compliance with public procurement laws and, where applicable, the Public-Private Partnership Act. Finally, practitioners should closely monitor the development of the national EV policy and any new environmental regulations related to clean energy technologies, as these will shape future investment and operational parameters in Tanzania's rapidly transforming energy sector. The success of these initiatives will not only depend on technical implementation but also on robust, adaptive legal and regulatory support.