Tanzania’s coal exports rise seven-fold to hit $224m

Tanzania, which has 1.9 billion tons of proven coal reserves, saw an increase in its coal exports to $223.8 million since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which sprout an energy crisis in Europe

According to the most recent central bank data, Tanzanian coal exports experienced a seven-fold increase in the year to the month of March as a result of the strong demand brought on by Europe’s energy crisis as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Exports of coal edged up to $223.8 million from $31.9 million, induced by rising demand for alternative energy, amid supply challenges caused by the war in Ukraine,” the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) says in its Monthly Economic Review for April 2023.

The once-sleepy port of Mtwara is now seeing unheard-of operations, and the government is generating large profits from the exports thanks to the rebounding coal demand in Europe.

According to Norbert Kalembwe, manager of Mtwara Port, they handled about 1.5 million tonnes of cargo from July 2022 to March this year, with coal making up approximately 80% of the total.

“Up to March this year business has been good. We have seen an increase in revenue both for the port and government collections,” Mr Kalembwe said.

The need for coal has conflicted with initiatives to switch to sustainable energy as countries attempt to wean themselves from Russian gas.

The amount of Tanzanian coal shipments to Europe is anticipated to fall in a few years as a result of the EU’s policy on carbon emissions, according to Manfredo Fanti, director of the European Union Delegation to Tanzania.

“In the short-term and with the effect of the war, the EU has increased its import in coal, but we shouldn’t expect that to last in the next few years to come,” he said.

By 2050, European nations hope to have a net-zero economy in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, ending the use of coal.